Selling income property isn’t like selling a house. You can paint a house, and get a little more because it looks nice. Rental property is different, because it’s bought by investors, who look at income more than new paint. Raise income, and you increase value.
Let’s assume investors in your area expect a capitalization rate of .08. That means that they want a net return (before loan payments and taxes) of 8% on the purchase price. If your three-plex generates $12,000 net income annually, they’ll value it around $150,000 ($12,000 divided by .08). Make it generate $16,000, and you make it worth $200,000.
Get More Income From Your Income Property
Higher rents is the obvious way to boost income, if you can justify it. Find out what similar units are renting for. If you’re $60 below the going rate, you can raise rents and not lose your renters. Raising the rent $60 for three apartments means $2160 more net income annually. At a .08 cap rate, you just added $27,000 to the value of your property.
Consider other ways to raise rents. Your tenants may agree to $30 more per month if you have a carport built. That’s $1080...