buying your first home - what you should know

Insight For Buying An Investment Property

Investing in the real estate market is just like any other investment process: you need to know the right strategies to be successful. And to help you complete this task in the real estate market today, following some basic investing rules can make all the difference in your experience. The following explains some recommendations to help you buy a property for your next real estate investment purchase.

Look at Bank Owned Properties

When you are seeking to buy an investment property, such as a single-family or multi-family residence, you want to get the best deal possible for the property to help the property's cash flow potential. Looking at bank-owned properties that have been taken back in foreclosure or bankruptcy is a good way to help you find a property that is selling at a discount.

The more expensive a property is, the more you will need to be able to charge in rent. And if the rent rates in that area do not support how much you need to charge, it can be difficult to find a profitable property. For example, if you own a rental property that has costs that are approximately $2,000 each month, you need to be able to charge a bit more than $2,000 each month to break even on the property's expenses.

To make this search easier, work with a real estate agent who can find these properties for you. You might need to bid on some homes that are real estate owned, or you can submit an offer with their help directly to the bank that owns the property. Keep in mind the negotiation and purchase process can take a bit longer when you are dealing with a bank, but the wait is usually worth it when you buy a property for less than its value.

Consider the Property's Potential

As you start shopping in an area of the market for your next rental investment property, you want to have a good understanding of the rental market in the area. This will help you know how much a property can rent for and will help you spot a good deal quickly. 

Often, if a property is listed on the real estate market and is priced at a discount, it can get purchased quickly. But when you can spot a good deal and immediately make an offer to the seller, this can lock you into the deal before any other buyer does.

You should also be able to spot a good deal in a property that needs quite a bit of work and repairs. Be able to calculate the property's potential repairs compared to its sales price to make sure you can buy the property, fix it up, and rent it out for positive cash flow.

For more information about property for sale in your area, contact a real estate agent today.


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