Answer
Should I deliver my building vacant before selling?
Rarely worth it. Buyout costs, Ellis Act timelines, and legal exposure often exceed the price premium a vacant building commands. Most LA buyers actively prefer tenanted deals for the in-place income. Exceptions: heavy value-add positions, redevelopment plays, and specific probate/estate situations. Get a broker opinion before committing to any buyout program.
What a buyout actually costs
Cash for keys in regulated LA submarkets can run $10K–$50K+ per unit, plus legal and timeline risk. For a 12-unit building, the math often doesn't work.
The alternative that does work
A sharp loss-to-lease narrative in the OM lets buyers price the upside themselves without you funding buyouts. Same net proceeds, no tenant-displacement exposure.
Local context
This answer reflects how deals actually trade in Cameron Samimi's core coverage area: the South Bay (Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena, El Segundo), Long Beach (Alamitos Beach, Belmont Heights, Wrigley, Bixby Knolls, Downtown), and Westside LA. Pricing, rent regulation, and buyer depth differ materially between these submarkets — verify the specifics for your property before acting.
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