2–4 Unit Multi-Family Financing in Shoreline, WA

2–4 Unit Multi-Family investing in Shoreline

A 2–4 unit property in Shoreline is still residential financing — it is underwritten on the 1025 Small Residential Income Property appraisal rather than a commercial rent roll, so you keep 30-year fixed terms while spreading vacancy risk across multiple doors. Losing one tenant in a duplex costs you roughly half your income instead of all of it.

At the Shoreline median of $750,000, a 2–4 unit multi-family prices near $1,185,000 for a typical duplex — small multifamily trades at a premium per building but a discount per door. Minimum down is 25% ($296,250), leaving a loan of $888,750. Estimated all-in PITIA runs about $7,612 per month.

Returns and structure

Return metrics at the Shoreline median for this product: an estimated cap rate of 3.94%, and monthly cash flow of $1,335 negative at 25% down. Negative cash flow at the minimum down payment is common in appreciation-led markets; investors close the gap with a larger down payment, a purchase below median, an added unit, or a rate buydown. Note that the $888,750 loan amount exceeds the $806,500 conforming limit for King County, so agency pricing is off the table and this is a jumbo DSCR file.