Like what you see? I'm always adding more content. Click SUBSCRIBE! to receive email alerts every time I make an update.
The top of this page displays a Dashboard Summary of all of my key performance metrics. Scroll down for a detailed month-by-month account.
november 2021 update (-$1,115)
Not much news for the past several months! Had a negative month due to paying for painting the large porch, plus paying a large sewer/trash bill.
may 2021 update (+$1,023)
Big month with no problems.
april 2021 update (+$264)
Paid a few utility bills but still positive, so that’s good enough for me.
march 2021 update (-$209)
Paid a few repair bills from the last few months, including the turnover from December.
february 2021 update (+$1,110)
Nice bounceback month, excited for this one to have a better year than last year!
january 2021 update (-$277)
As usual for the month of January, a slightly negative month due to rental license fees and utilities.
december 2020 update (+$458)
Decent last month of the year, but the damage was done throughout the year to keep this property from performing to expectations. The main culprit was turnovers plus the tenant who didn’t pay for a few months (and we are pretty much never going to see the money they owe). All 4 units are occupied with paying tenants now, so we should start 2021 on the right foot.
november 2020 update (+$30)
Still no payments from one tenant. The good news is, my PM convinced her to move out at the end of November, and he got a new tenant to move in immediately!
October 2020 update (+$87)
Shaping up to be the worst year since 2015 for Central PA 4 plex. The non-paying tenant’s check bounced at the beginning of the month, and we can’t evict because of COVID restrictions. We’re trying to get them set up with a state aid program. Not a lot of motivation for the tenant to apply for aid, since there’s no repercussions for not paying. When this all started back in March, I was expecting 50% of my units to be like this, so I guess this is a big improvement on that expectation. Still sucks though.
september 2020 update (+$8)
Having an uncharacteristic flat year with Central PA 4 plex. I had a tenant miss rent in September, but they caught back up in the beginning of October. Yes…it was COVID/unemployment related. Hopefully the year will close out strong.
august 2020 update (+$374)
No issues this month.
july 2020 update (-$425)
Another down month after paying for some minor repairs, along with the expensive semi-annual utility bills.
june 2020 update (+$1,099)
Awesome bounce back month after filling a vacancy last month.
may 2020 update (-$415)
Another down month as another unit turned over. I had to pay turnover expenses plus the placement fee for a new tenant. These units fill QUICK.
Next month is looking good!
april 2020 update (-$13)
A break even month. I paid a tenant placement fee for a tenant that moved in in the middle of March. Plus, one tenant only paid 1/2 rent due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
march 2020 update (+$1,038)
Nice month, even after a 2 week vacancy in one of the units. It was filled on March 15th. No big deal! I’ll be paying the tenant placement fee next month.
february 2020 update (+$591)
A decent month. My PM found out early in the month that a tenant was moving out early. There were some turnover repairs associated with that.
That unit is already leased for $25/month more.
january 2020 update (-$34)
Just like in previous years, January is just a “meh” month, due to utilities and annual landlord fees. Next month looking good!
december 2019 update (+$1,002)
Another good month, and another year of perfectly on-target cash flow from the 4 plex.
november 2019 update (+$169)
Near break even month as I had to pay for utilities and one or two minor repairs. Next month looking great.
october 2019 update (+$861)
Another great month, and Central PA 4 Plex continues to quietly crush it.
september 2019 update (+$656)
Nice month with minimal issues.
august 2019 update (+$288)
Another mediocre month after paying minor repairs and sewer bill. Next month looking good. Love the predictability of this property.
july 2019 update (+$349)
Mediocre month, had to pay some repair bills. Still cash flow positive, so all good.
june 2019 update (+$944)
Heavy cash flow this month! No issues.
May 2019 Update (+$238)
A little dip this month simply due to utility payments. Next month looking good!
april 2019 update (+$1,062)
Awesome cash flow this month even after paying for the turnover repairs. Gross rents went up almost $100 with the new tenant and increased rent on existing tenants. I’ve adjusted the projections accordingly.
march 2019 update (+$355)
Vacancy was filled in about 2 weeks! Plus, my PM raised the rents up to market in 2 other units. Central PA 4 plex will be up and running better than ever after I pay the lease up fee and minor turnover bill next month.
february 2019 update (+$920)
Nice bounce back month! I’ve got a vacancy coming up in one of the units but hoping that it gets filled quick. It should.
january 2019 update (-$575)
I’ve come to expect a low January for this property. I pay a few utility bills this month plus a $192 landlord license for the year (annoying).
December 2018 update (+$833)
Great month to close out another solid year, despite the fiasco with the old property manager in the middle of the year.
november 2018 update (+$459)
Another solid month after paying some utilities and minor repairs. A beautiful bounce-back after switching PM’s in the middle of the year.
october 2018 update (+$427)
Decent month - even after taking care of some repairs that were deferred by the old property manager.
september 2018 update (+$682)
Nice cash flow despite some minor basement flooding from all the rain we’ve been getting here in PA.
august 2018 update (+$65)
A break even month after changing over to the new property manager, mainly due to uneven rent payments (a tenant pre-paid in July) and also my property manager keeps $300 in a reserve account.
Still expecting one or two more repair items coming up.
july 2018 update (-$758)
Long story...where to start? I ended up hearing from one of my tenants that the property manager was at best negligent, and at worst, straight up lying to both me and my tenants. There were multiple issues of deferred maintenance which caused safety issues for the tenants. I ended up having to step in and get my contractor to fix the worst of the issues, before firing the manager. I take safety (and any maintenance issue) very seriously and expect my property managers to respond promptly and professionally. Especially with a property like this where I've got great tenants who pay on time ALL THE TIME.
I now have all my Central PA properties with the same manager, which long term will be simpler to me to manage. We still have some lingering maintenance items that need to be fixed, so I might have some lean months upcoming for this property.
June 2018 update (+$63)
Eked out some cash flow despite having to pay for a new water heater for one of the units.
may 2018 update (+$516)
Great cash flow, even though I had to pay the expensive sewer bill this month.
April 2018 update (+$639)
Good month, although had to pay for the water bill, electricity bill and some plumbing repairs.
march 2018 update (+$892)
Another great month. This property carried the portfolio this month.
february 2018 update (+$933)
The Central PA 4 Plex "cash flow love affair" continues! My top priority is cash flow, but it is interesting to note that I'm starting to get some pretty good debt paydown (over $300/month) on this property as well. Not a bad side benefit!
january 2018 update (-$561)
I had some predictable expenses this month: had to pay water, sewer and trash, as well as the annual landlord license fee. These all amounted to over $1,000 which caused the negative cash flow. Next month is looking good!
December 2017 update (+$913)
I'm continuing to love this property and the returns get better and better as rents come up. B/C class multi-family is where it's at, baby! January will be break even due to utilities but I see no reason we can't have another awesome year with this 4 plex.
November 2017 update (+$1,070)
This property continues to be the bedrock of the portfolio - Old Reliable - and was the only positive cash flow property this month. Next month is looking fantastic so far.
October 2017 update (-$900)
We paid utilities this month, plus were hit with some expenses from last month's turnover. All easy to plan for, and next month is looking good.
september 2017 update (+$91)
Another turnover/vacancy this month, but the previous tenant moved out on the 15th and new tenant moved in on the 22nd. Awesome! Plus, this allowed me to raise the rent from $595 to $625. We are slowly working to get all 4 units up to $625 (2 out of 4 so far).
january 2016 - august 2017
I've really been pleased with this property ever since the property manager got some of their own tenants and raised rents up to market. There have been a few turnovers but the units filled in less than a week. I pay water (January & July), sewer and trash (January, April, July & October) which is why those months appear low, but utilities are easy to plan for. This property has a low cash on cash, but it is consistent and predictable, and provides a nice backbone to the portfolio. I wouldn't mind having a few more of these types of properties.
July 2015 - December 2015
I didn't have tracking in place until January 2016. But I can tell you it was not a smooth start. My new property manager was put to the test immediately and had to evict one of my inherited tenants. Due to the vacancy (the tenants were still there but not paying) plus cleanup/repair costs, I essentially broke even on cash flow on this property for 2015.
June 2015
Acquired this property (my first one) in June of 2015. Started with a local property manager immediately.