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A Look at Retractable Awnings
Awnings are popular for many reasons. They not only add style and elegance to both residential and commercial buildings, but can also greatly increase energy efficiency. The combination of these factors has made awnings one of the favorite...
Can You Afford A House?
The time has come to buy a house. Questions buzz around in your head like a swarm of angry bees: “How much can I borrow? How much do I have to put down? How much will my payments be?” Well, let me suggest starting with the “How much can I borrow?”...
How Much Is Your Real Estate Worth?
Today, the asking price of most properties is quite large and usually beyond the normal means of the consumer. This is why a lot of people apply for a loan in order to acquire property.
Pre-Qualification Stage
To pre-qualify yourself for...
Real Estate Marketing – Beef Up Your Follow-Up
If you're a real estate agent, client follow-up should be a major part of your real estate marketing program. Whether it's a postcard mailing program through a direct mail vendor, or just a series of well-timed thank you cards after the transaction,...
The Pros And Cons Of The Real Estate Business
Real Estate Business: To be or not to be
Real estate business has been around for a good number of years. More and more people are drawn to it because of the steady influx of money. But there are things you have to consider before entering a...
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Owning Rental Property
Many people today are intrigued with the idea of owning investment real estate. It sound like an awfully simple way to make money: Owning property, renting it out to tenants, and collecting rent payments. The truth is, it can be an extremely profitable venture, or it can be a train wreck.
An individual who is purchasing rental property for the purposes of income has a long road ahead of him, and he should be involved every step of the way to ensure that his investment turns out in the end.
The first step in figuring out if you're ready to own investment property is to ask yourself how much money you have to pay up front. Buying your own home can require costly down payments, but investment properties generally require that plus much more. You may very well have to come up with not only the down payment on the property, but also the cash needed to bring the place up to code and rental standards. There are different standards for a rental property than for a private home. Unless the place you purchase has been a rental before, expect to be shelling out quite a bit of cash upfront.
Keep in mind, there are loans available for those buying rental properties. But rates and terms for investment real estate loans are harsher than those for private homes, since lenders believe there is not as much emotional investment for the borrower, and so their loan is more at risk. Explore your options and check into a few different lenders, trying to get the best loan rates you can. It may not be easy, but if you are not planning to back down from the task, you
will not be wasting your time.
Once you manage to get your property renovated and you're ready to go, you'll face the issue of finding good tenants through the screening process. You can certainly hire a property manager to help you out here, as well as to deal with repairs that come up later, but most small landlords are much better off doing this process themselves. Screen tenants carefully and don't let emotional involvement get in the way. Set some standards regarding credit reports and income, and stick to them regardless of who walks in your door.
Don’t expect to make a profit at first. Your rate of return is going to be small, even if you have done the math and figured out your rent cost as carefully as possible. Also prepare yourself for unexpected repairs which are going to bring down your profit margin and require some work on your part. The first three years of a rental property are, typically, the shakiest. If you're committed to being a landlord, you're not afraid to roll up your sleeves, and if you're planning to stick with it, you can reasonably expect a decent profit at some point in the future.
About the Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a real estate expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.king-of-real-estate.com/ for more information on real estate, mortgages, and finding the house of your dream.
Source: www.isnare.com
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