| |
| |
|
Real Estate Information |
|
|
|
How to Eliminate Risk in Real Estate Investment
Avoid 12 Common Mistakes Made by Novice Investors and Ensure High Rates of Return! Real estate investment has provided many investors with positive cash flow, tax benefits and satisfaction of making an impact in others lives. Like any investment however, real estate has intricate nuances and market trends that when ignored can cause an investor tremendous heart ache. Unbelievably many first time investors are willing to part with their hard earned cash without taking the time to study their investment. They rely on traditional trends and gut feelings. Before you risk your investment take the time to learn all you can about your market. By aligning yourself with the right professional you can avoid these 12 common mistakes and you'll ensure an excellent return on your investment. 1. Failure to Determine Your Time Need - Cash flow, capital appreciation, tax benefits, loss of management, equity paydown and pride of ownership are just some of the things that need to be addressed before you make that investment. A service minded real estate professional can be a tremendous asset by taking the time to evaluate your needs and making sure you've got all your bases covered. 2. Not Checking out the Seller or Sellers Agents Numbers - Claims of extremely high rates of return run rampant in real estate investment. Don't get caught up in the excitement - check everything: rents, payment history, taxes, expenses, deposits, future modifications... everything. Make sure you have the right agent...it's like having a good insurance policy against overlooking all the seemingly insignificant but very important details. 3. Forgetting You Are Buying a Business - Owning investment property carries with it a great potential for creating wealth and... some potentially difficult decisions. Evictions, re-investment into the property and time management all need careful consideration. Remember this is not a 'hands off' business. 4. Avoid Negative Cash Flow - Property that eats cash every month can drain your working capital. This can create stress, frustration and become quite painful. Predicting constant appreciation is extremely difficult if not impossible for the unseasoned investor. A strain on your cash flow may cause you to sell the investment before the benefits of ownership are ever realized. 5. Failure to do a Thorough Inspection - Look under every rock! Hire a professional inspector. Ask the tenants about pest problems, structural damage or reoccurring problems. Don't overlook anything! A value driven real estate professional will help you find the right inspector and can help you avoid costly mistakes. When investing your hard earned money be sure and use sound business judgment! 6. Failing to Have Adequate Insurance - Investment property brings liability. Tenants, cars, parking lots, cleaning facilities, property liability - the list is quite extensive. Adequate insurance coverage is an absolute must! Be sure to consult with an insurance professional and protect your hard earned assets. 7. Inspect, Approve, and Confirm All Documents - The list of documents that need to be proofed can be overwhelming to the first time investor. Building permits, zoning laws, rental and lease applications, health licenses, laundry leases, underlying loan documents, CC&R's, by-laws, title policies, mineral leases, inspection reports, purchase contracts, insurance.. don't attempt to do it alone. The right professional can remove most of the stress and bring the transaction to a conclusion smoothly. 8. Get a Bill of Sale For All Property Involved - Many types of personal property (appliances, furniture, fixtures, etc.) can be involved in an investment sale. Be very detailed -know who owns what! 9. Charge Fair Rents - Vacancies, turnovers and lease terminators are your biggest expense. Charge fair rents, treat your tenants with respect and respond as quickly as possible to their needs. It's a lot less costly in the long run to take care of the little problems before they become big problems. Vacant property is your Achilles heel. 10. Select Qualified, Good Tenants From the Start - Take the time to check references. Previous landlords, employers, financial references, credit and judgments are all vitally important. If there are any questions do a thorough investigation. Drive by their previous residence. A little work up front can save tremendous problems later. 11. Make Sure You Get Estoppel Letters - Get letters from tenants confirming the status of tenancy. Make sure their version of the rental or lease agreement corresponds with the sellers interpretation. 12. Don't Spend Positive Cash Flow - Most of successful investors have free and clear properties. Be sure to re-invest your cash flow back into the property payment and speed up the amortization schedule. This decreases your debt load and increases your equity which builds your net worth. Investment property can be one of the most rewarding aspects of your financial portfolio. Be certain to have all your ducks in a row before you invest. Do your homework! Consult with a professional real estate agent and protect yourself from the hidden troubles that can plague first time investors. Neda Dabestani-Ryba is a licensed Realtor in Maryland. She is a member of the President's Circle of Top Real Estate Professionals. She can be reached at (800) 536-3806 or visit her website for more information: http://neda.dabestani.pcragent.com/Prudential Carruthers REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Property for Sale in Bulgaria - Emerging Property Markets 1 The latest investment property headline is this: Popular and well trodden markets such as France and Spain are out, Bansko is in.Where?Bansko, Bulgaria. How to Sell Your Home Without a Real Estate Agent Considering the rapid rise in home prices over the past several years, home sellers are taking a hard look at the commission they have to pay to a real estate brokerage to market and sell their home. Real estate commissions vary across the country; they average in the four to seven percent range. Home Inspectors - Negotiating a Lower Price To help you negotiate a fair sale price for a home, it's best to get an appraisal and inspection report. Even if you agree directly with the home seller on a sale price, you may want these items to safeguard the value of your new investment. How Not To Blow Your Build Budget Most people who complete a self build will go on to make a profit if they decide to sell afterwards, but what steps can you take to ensure that you don't totally blow the budget?There are lots of advantages to a totally unique self-build but most important is sound financial planning before and during the self-build, to ensure you stay within budget and make worthwhile savings.Research all your costs carefully and get as many perspectives and quotes as possible. Real Estate Investment - One Simple Formula I saw the ads in our small-town newspaper for years before I realized exactly what was going on. They were always the same: A house for sale with 5% down and payments of 1% of the purchase price. Maltas Market Battle With new destinations such as Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia offering two and three bedroom apartments for sale for £50,000, there was concern last year among some Malta estate agents that 2005 could see a drop in the number of UK and Irish buyers choosing to buy a holiday home on the island.With good all year round temperatures enticing many buyers for the winter months as well as the summer, driving on the left and a warm welcome from the local population who nearly all speak English, Malta has been popular for some years among overseas property buyers. Why Selling on Lease Options is Glorified Landlording I might upset some folks with this one, but that's okay as I think it's important to get some of my experiences into the light of day. If you fully believe the hype that you won't have any landlording responsibilities by selling on a lease option, go ahead and stop here. Should You Accept A Full Purchase Offer For Your Note or Not? You could be facing a dilemma when considering payout options on selling your mortgage note! To accept a full purchase offer or a partial purchase offer is not always an easy decision.Sure, to take the full purchase option is an easy decision to make if you're holding a second position note on a property that doesn't have any equity after you add the first and second mortgages, but what if that's not your situation? Full purchase payouts can be good if your primary concern is to just get out of the note and be done with it. How To Buy Real Estate - Yes, YOU CAN! If you want to buy a house but don't think you can for any of the following reasons, this article is intended to give you correct information so that you can make smarter choices and open yourself up to a world of wealth, possibilities and realistic expectations.The truth is you are being unrealistic when you believe the following reasons to be true:I can't buy property now because?I don't have 20% for a down payment, let alone 5%, let alone even 1%. Utah Real Estate Looking to buy real estate in Utah? The market has changed over the past few years and is going to continue to change over the next few (drastically) and here are a few things you should consider before buying any Utah real estate.First, the Olympics didn't affect the state as much as people thought it would. Rapid City Real Estate Agents Take me Back to the Black HillsLocated in Western South Dakota, Rapid City is a thriving community with many amenities to offers its residents. This city is nestled among the beautiful Black Hills, offering endless recreational activities for the outdoor enthusiast in the Black Hills National Forest. 3 Top Real Estate Investing Methods for Maximum Wealth Real Estate investing can be used to gain wealth in three major ways -1. Long-term Real Estate investing is most often utilized using appreciation as a planning tool. Home Equity or Debt Trap? Are you using the equity from your home to purchase everyday things? This is a dangerous trend growing more popular every month as millions of Americans tap into the value of their home to fund a lifestyle.How many times have you heard the saying "Your home is the best investment you'll ever make"? How many times have you also heard that your home will be the most valuable asset you will ever own?Both of these are as true, if not truer, today than at any time in the past. Setting Goals for Real Estate Success The power of goal setting has been well documented and communicated so before you skip over this point because you've heard it all before I'd like you to consider how well you are doing it. I'm a firm believer that you don't truly understand something until you are doing it. Essential Buyer's Guide for Overseas Real Estate It's been said many a time that overseas real estate buyers leave their brain on the plane when they step out into the sun in their overseas destination of choice. They've already fallen in love with the country, its people, climate and lifestyle and they've come to snap up that dream home. Cheap Homes For Sale In Great Towns Good Homes Under $50,000? My wife Ana and I found cheap homes for sale all over the country during a seven-week drive, and we even bought one along the way. It was in a pretty little town in the mountains of western Montana, and it cost us $17,500. The Listing Agents Role in Selling Your California Home Advertising to the "Public"Every home seller likes to be assured that their listing agent and or their real estate company will run ads featuring their home. Newspaper ads range from color photo ads to lots of listings reflected on a page with primarily only copy. Property Investing - Am I Buying for Profit or Prestige? All of us have emotional preconceptions and assumptions. They are reinforced and fine tuned by our experiences of life, be they traumatic, disciplined or consistent. Hiring A Contractor - 10 Mistakes To Avoid A very smart attorney I know paid $7,000 for a roof repair, only to have the roof leak the next time it rained. The contractor stalled, made excuses, but never did a thing about it. Selling a Home - What Personal Property Stays? The home selling and buying process can be confusing, particularly when it comes to figuring out what items stay with the home. This is especially true when it is a FSBO (for sale by owner) operation.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
