Investing in real estate can be a scary venture for somebody who is going to do it for the first time. So what should a first-time real estate investor do to greatly increase his chances of getting his money’s worth? Learn and be informed!
Oftentimes, first timers do not ask questions because they do not want to sound as if they don’t know anything. To be honest, when you don’t know anything, you speculate. And once you speculate, you are not making an informed decision which will lead to a potential money loss in the future.
Cash flow is King
When you invest for the first time, thinking about renting out a more stable middle-class property as that will give you lesser chances of experiencing a downturn. Bear in mind that you need to have a steady cash flow before you proceed to another investment. Think about the cost, how much you will spend on improvement and how much the rent will be after renovation. Make sure that your future renter can afford your real estate.
Carefully Flip
It is so easy to get carried away when we flipping a home. One of the very real risks is when prices in the housing sector fall and you end up losing a lot of money. Be realistic in your expectations. Look at the location and try to identify who your possible customers will be. How much can they afford? If you go all out and your house becomes the best house in the neighborhood but if it costs double that of the market standard, then you stand to lose.
Scratch the Surface
Before buying your real estate, compare it with three others. It would be wise to go to the local city departments to check if there are any road widening projects, possible new developments, and other possible obligations that might tie your investment up. Remember that investing in real estate will not always have a fast turn-around, so make sure that you don’t tie your money down unnecessarily. Learn as much as you can about what the future holds for the property you are interested in by asking around.
What if your tenant skips town and can’t pay you anymore? If this happens, can you still pay for the mortgage on your own? Make sure that you can still manage when something like this happens. It is always a good idea to start small and grow it big. Do not be pressured into investing in something that is way beyond what you can afford at the moment.