What to Know Before Buying an RCFE
Indeed, there are many trips and traps when buying an RCFE (residential care facility for the elderly). And, of course, we all know that not all RCFE are created equal. Still, you have to ask yourself; where do I start, what should I be looking for, and what are the major red flags? Suffice it to say, there are many factors you must take seriously as well as a number of pitfalls - and, yes, as they say; "the devil is in the details" and when it comes to purchasing an RCFE, Board and Care Facility, or Assisted Living Home you'll need guidance and a solid strategy. First things first - you need to know what you are looking for.
What Size and Type of RCFE Would You Like to Purchase?
Let's get the terms straight, so we are all on the same page here. What are the differences between an RCFE, Assisted Living Home, Rest Home, and Board and Care Facility? Essentially, they are the same, at least as far as the State of California is concerned when it comes to licensing. All of these facilities must have the RCFE License.
Out in the real world most RCFEs are smaller with under 15-beds, and most are privately owned, often with the owners living in the local community. The larger Assisted Living facilities generally have corporate and investment company owners. These facilities are easily recognizable and usually come with private apartments (rooms) and different resident packages.
Licensed RCFEs can provide non-medical assistance such as: eating, incontinence, dressing, personal hygiene, walking, supervision, and reminding and distributing a resident's personal medicines as the prescription designates (self-administered). These facilities are not required to have doctors or certified nurses on their staff.
Why is the Owner Selling Their Facility in the First Place?
If Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly are such a good business model, then why on Earth is the owner selling? Do they have multiple facilities and want to sell their dog, while keeping their flagship or profitable operations? Are the owners retiring themselves and don't have heirs to take over the business, thus, just want to cash out? Is the facility rundown? Maybe owners don't wish to invest on needed upgrades. Is the facility borderline and worried about licensing requirements and future inspections? Has the RCFE ever been licensed?
Has the facility been cited before for lapses in their mandatory compliance, is it at risk of license revocation? Have the owners been called into formal administrative hearings for non-compliance? Title 22 regulations are serious business, is the facility in chronic violation? How does the facility handle its compliance obligations and record-keeping, it's easy to get into the 'digital record-keeping doghouse' in CA, a place no RCFE wants to be? Does the facility have a good reputation with the DSS - Department of Social Services? You need to know before you start making any offers.
Looking over the facility, does it look clean? If you were a state inspector would you pass it for health and safety? What do their records show from previous inspections? Has the facility been paying the staff properly and recording overtime in a legitimate fashion? Are all members of the staff legal US citizens or have work VISAs? Again, if everything is on the up-and-up, why are they selling?
Remember: You are Buying a Business, Not Just Real Estate
Yes, while it is true that real estate can be a good investment over time and a hedge against future inflation, buying an RCFE is about buying a business. The real estate should be a secondary consideration. In fact, if you separate out the two, and look at the real estate as one investment and the business as the other, you'll have a clearer picture. Can the real estate stand on its own merit as a viable investment; long-term hold, or fix and flip? Can you afford to buy and hold the real estate if the RCFE doesn't make a profit on its own?
How will you pay for it all if you lose the residents due to the change in ownership? There will be some attrition when new owners take over, the average is 20-30% - can you deal with that, at a time when you are planning to spend on new upgrades? What is your plan, do you have a strategy? What if all the residents move out? Will the sellers consider a 'claw back' clause in the purchase agreement in case that happens? Will the current owners stay on board for a while ensuring a smooth transition? Are the current owners a problem, perhaps you don't want them anywhere near the facility?
How is the neighborhood? Are the surrounding neighbors happy with the facility? Have there been issues? Will they turn-out and speak against your future plans of expansion, upgrades or filings at the local planning commission as you try to get your construction or remodeling projects approved? Is the Neighborhood itself run down, will this prevent you from attracting residents or prevent you from commanding a fair and reasonable market price for those who come to stay?
Is the RCFE Profitable?
Is this facility making money? Are most of the residents SSI residents? If so, you will never be able to evict them, nor will you be able to raise prices much. If the facility isn't making money now or barely scraping by, what will do when it is time to make repairs, upgrades, or comply with future regulations?
Will you need to expand the facility to improve revenue? Will you be able to renovate and add-on to the facility? Can you potentially do this out of cash flow? Speaking of cash flow, how timely are the residents with their payments? Are loved ones footing the bill, are they perpetually late with payments? Have the current facility owners been letting these late pays slide in the past? Are all the residents paying similar rates or have long-term 'sweetheart deals' been made for a few? Are all payments being made above board or are some residents paying 'cash' in off the books payments - if so this can cause havoc with proving revenue and financing your purchase.
How much work are the owners doing - do they have family members doing work, are they paid like regular employees? How is all this accounted for? Will your costs change drastically once you take over the business, as you will have to hire more staff than is currently servicing residents to offer the same level of care?
If you plan on doing substantial upgrades to the facility; what are the local building codes like, what restrictions are there on these types of facilities and what is the zoning in that specific area of the city? As you can see, most all California cities have rules and building codes for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly.
What other competition is in the area? Are new larger corporate Assisted Living Homes opening nearby with low-introductory offers? That is to say; can you compete with the 'big boys', the well-financed REITs with huge new facilities, an array of amenities, economies of scale, paid referral recruitment programs, and choice locations? You probably can if the business is profitable now, in full-compliance, and/or you have a solid strategic plan.
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