I’m in a frustrating situation and wanted to get some outside opinions. I’m the treasurer of a small condo complex that I also own a unit in. Since joining the board, I’ve helped restore the financial health of the HOA and significantly improve the appearance of the property. Because I know the complex inside and out, I’ve been offered several opportunities to buy units at prices well below their appraised values: One owner wants to sell me her unit for $70,000, even though it appraised around $107,000. Another board member was willing to sell me multiple units for $350,000, with a combined estimated value of $450,000–$500,000. There’s also a unit headed toward foreclosure that could potentially be purchased for around $40,000, despite being worth roughly $100,000. In a best-case scenario, I could end up buying 8 units for about $460,000 that are collectively worth around $650,000–$700,000. About half are already rented, most need little to no renovation, and projected cash flow ...
I’m starting to think building may make more sense than waiting for the perfect house to come on the market. Inventory is really limited where I’m looking (Western MA), and I’m finding that I’m extremely picky. The house I’d like to build is: Modern/contemporary style (not farmhouse) About 2,300 sq. ft. Two stories 3 bedrooms Attached 2-car garage Full basement Wraparound porch On a wooded lot (I have found land I might be interested in) I’m trying to decide between a traditional site-built home, a modular home, or a panelized home. I’ve read that panelized and modular homes can sometimes be built faster than a traditional home, but I’m not sure how they compare in terms of quality, customization, or overall cost. My biggest concerns are time and cost. I really don’t want to spend two years waiting to move into a house, but I also don’t want to spend close to $1 million building one if I can avoid it. My limit is about $800K (preferably $650 to $700K). I’ve heard building i...