No matter what your profession is, you probably have thought about buying an investment property to increase your wealth and secure your financial future. This is, indeed, a very true idea.
However, many people think that no matter what property they invest in, it will deliver good money instantly. Always keep in mind that your success in real estate investing depends first on the kind of investment property you purchase. By this, we mean that there are things for you to consider when going through the process of buying your investment property. Only after you have bought an investment property with a high potential, everything else will depend on whether you run your property effectively in order for you to achieve your financial goals.
Related: Financial Planning for Real Estate Investing 101
In this article, we are going to talk about the process of buying an investment property and what to take into consideration when doing so.
Buying an investment property
Choose your investment property wisely
When you first start looking for a real estate property to invest in, you should ask yourself some questions. Will this property make your capital grow? Will its value increase? Does this real estate property serve your investment strategy? When searching for an investment property, you should always be patient and compare different choices. Do your full research on the area around this real estate property. Consider buying an investment property in an area that you are familiar with, especially if you are a beginner real estate investor. Stay away from buying in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Also, know the area you are investing in and what is most in demand there. For example, if it is near a school or a park, a single family home is more desirable. Or if the location is near a university campus, an apartment will be more in demand.
Do the math before buying the real estate property
You should always remember that the expenses do not simply end when you buy the investment property. In other words, do not put all your money on the property and remain with a zero balance. Always keep some cash on hand. There are many other things that might come your way, mainly to afford your long-term loan payments to the bank. In addition to other expenses that might come up your way, you will need to maintain the property or cover sudden repairs. Be aware of the taxes you need to pay when you invest in a real estate property, take into your calculations Stamp Duty, Property Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Land Tax that must be paid. Not to forget that there’s insurance coverage that might take a good share of your profits depending on where you invest; for example, if an area is prone to hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, the insurance rates would be higher than in other areas. So always compare insurance rates and companies’ offers.
Related: Condo Insurance: What Every Condo Owner Needs to Know
Know your housing market
Just like everything in real estate investment, you have to do your research. Always dig in all the information available on an investment property and the area around it. What is the neighborhood like? What are the facilities and services available to it? You can never go wrong when you ask a local. They usually know everything about the area. Also always ask trustworthy real estate professionals about the investment property and the area around it. Moreover, today you can get a lot of information with a simple click on the internet to get full access to information and description of the property and the neighborhood that you have in mind.
Decide what type of financing works best for you when buying an investment property
To stay financially stable, you should always put a good investment plan that works best for you and keeps you on the safe side. That is the very reason why you should know what type of mortgage serves your purpose perfectly, depending on your circumstances. For instance, should you take a fixed rate loan or a variable rate loan? Also, decide how long you are going to be paying for it. You will need to avoid short-term payment loans as this might affect your investment property’s cash flow. The last thing you need is paying more than what you are actually making from your real estate investment.
Related: Beginner Real Estate Investor Guide: How to Get Money for Investment Property
Hire an experienced real estate agent or a realtor to do the job
Buying an investment property might not be easy for everybody. That is why many real estate investors hire a professional real estate agent to do the work. Real estate agents specialize in trading real estate properties. So, in case you lack knowledge of some aspects of the housing market or real estate investments, they are the ones to take care of that. You can also benefit from their knowledge of the local real estate market as well as their opinion on the investment property you have in mind.
Calculate the risks of buying an investment property
Always be cautious and remember, too, that this is a long-term investment and the housing market changes every day. Calculating the risks associated with the investment property you have in mind will help you not only have an action plan but also set a plan B for when anything goes wrong. In this way you will make sure you can come out with the least damages from any situation. Moreover, when buying an investment property, try not to be too greedy by rushing to reach the financial stability you wish for immediately. This might lead to a miscalculated purchase and generate a negative cash flow property.
Proceed with the purchase
This step comes after you have actually considered all of the above steps. Now that you have chosen the real estate property you are going to purchase, you should do the following:
- Inspect the investment property.
- Get a pre-approval from the mortgage broker or the bank.
- Get a solicitor that will help you with the legal procedures.
- Prepare the contract for buying the investment property.
- Do your due diligence.
- Make an offer to the property seller.
- Sign the contract and pay the deposit that is required after getting the final approval from your mortgage broker or the bank.
- Make sure to get a good insurance on the real estate property.
- Sign all the remaining documents.
Finally
Buying an investment property is indeed easy. But you should always know what you are dealing with. Some mistakes in real estate might cost you greatly. So, make sure you have considered all the aspects associated with buying an investment property. Don’t forget to check Mashvisor to learn what you need to know about real estate investment properties.