A Guide to Real Estate Real Estate
  • Investment

  • May30th

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    Owning Rental Property

    Posted in: Investment

    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.

  • March30th

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    Real Estate Investment – Why is it big business?

    Posted in: Investment

    When examining the different asset classes, real estate is generally far less volatile than shares and real estate tends to be the haven that investors flock to when other asset classes are suffering. It is true to say that investment properties can have many benefits in terms of building long-term wealth, but we must never forget that this wealth is not guaranteed!

    Following the global real estate boom of the late 1980’s many investors learnt this hard lesson when they found their properties were worth far less than they had actually paid for them and the bottom seemingly fell out of the over-inflated market. The bottom did not truly fall out of the market however as all real estate retained value; the real estate market simply experienced an overdue rebalance and has gone on to build from this point of stability.

    Since the booming 80’s ’sensible’ investments in real estate have still offered major attractions and advantages, and it is back to real estate that investors have turned in recent years.
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  • March30th

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    Secrets of Resale Value

    Posted in: Investment

    Whether you currently own a home or are looking to buy one, chances are you’re interested in resale value. There’s always the chance that you will be selling your home in the future, and with that in mind, it’s good to know you can get good payback for your purchase. Here are three things about house resale value that may surprise you.

    First of all, swimming pools are not worth much. Not in resale value, anyhow, even if you did pay a lot to have one installed. There was a time when having a pool in the backyard meant a lush and expensive home, but nowadays they are more common than you might think. Many modern home buyers are more interested in a backyard for the kids than they are in having a tiled pool outside their back door. Speaking of the kids, that’s another reason the resale value of homes with pools has gone down: With the ever-growing number of Americans with small children, many would just as soon steer clear of a large body of water in the yard. This is not to say that swimming pools do not have good resale value to the right buyer. It does mean, however, that there are fewer “right buyers” for this type of property than there once were.

    The second surprise is an easy one: You can never have too many bathrooms. Nowadays bathrooms are prime space in a home. Even installing a shower and toilet in a corner of the basement can add remodeling potential to your home. Ideally, every house would have a main floor bathroom, a guest bathroom, and a bathroom off of the master bedroom. In short, the more toilets and showers for today’s family, the better your home will fare in the market of the future.

    The third and final surprise source of value is this: If your home is the smallest in the neighborhood, it might be the best in terms of resale value. A small, modern, nicely kept home in a neighborhood of larger houses may fare very well. Picture it this way: Your neighborhood is desirable, and you’re lucky enough to have the most affordable house on the block. Compared to the prices of the property around you, what might seem like a high price for the size of your home can be considered a very good deal.

    Calculating resale value for a home that you plan to sell in the future can be a tricky job. It’s sometimes difficult to predict what will come and go in the buying market. The best advice is to keep the basics updated and in good shape- this means your kitchen, your roof, your yard, and other obvious hubs of the household. When the time comes to sell your home, be prepared to spend a little money to invest in one or two areas that can increase your home’s value considerably. It will be worth it.

  • March30th

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    Real Estate Repair Scams

    Posted in: Investment

    It happens more often than you might think. A person in a building company’s truck knocks on a homeowner’s door. The person tells the home owner that they were driving by, and they noticed some serious damage to the shingles on the roof. Have they had their roof inspected lately? Are they aware that this could cause problems down the road? The contractor, it just so happens, has the equipment in his truck, and he would be glad to start work immediately for a down payment.

    To anyone paying close attention, this already sounds like a scam.

    But even if the home owner misses these first warning signs, he discovers it’s a scam a few days later. That is, after he’s paid up, and the contractor has disappeared without doing the work, or announced that it will cost twice as much as he thought and he needs more money before he can continue.

    Home repair scams are fairly common, experts say, and new homeowners and the elderly are particularly susceptible. It might seem shocking that anyone would hand money to a person off the street with no guarantees, but many inexperienced owners are panicked at the thought of home repair, and they will trust anyone in a tool belt who tells them there’s a problem. No questions asked- unfortunately.

    What is the simplest way to tell the difference between a legitimate home contractor and a scam artist? The main rule is, if they come looking for you, consider them suspect. Legitimate contractors are busy- running a real business- and they don’t go knocking on doors for jobs, not even if your roof IS dangerously close to serious damage. If someone is knocking on doors and soliciting jobs, chances are they have more than enough time on their hands to do so, because they’re not actually doing any of the jobs.

    Of course, that doesn’t mean just because you look a contractor up in the phone book, you’re perfectly safe. Do your research. You’re investing a lot into choosing your contractor, including your money, your time, and your home. Don’t assume that just because a contractor holds a license that they’re a good one, either. Becoming a licensed contractor is hardly more than a matter of paperwork, and scam artists can become licensed just as easily as anyone else. The best way to find a good contract worker is by asking for recommendations from neighbors, coworkers, or friends who have had good work done. Ask them if they would hire the person again and what kinds of problems they might have encountered. Check with the Better Business Bureau and any local business registry offices. Ensure that the contractor is indeed registered as a business, and look into any feedback they may have received from previous customers.

    Home repair can be a scary and expensive process. When you’re faced with needed repairs, make sure you’ve got a professional on your side. It costs nothing to be careful, and it could save you a great deal.

  • March30th

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    Is Housing Too Expensive?

    Posted in: Investment

    The face of America’s population is changing by the day. With the onset of many lower-income jobs and the flux of workers in the job force who are making the federal minimum wage, the financial situation of the country’s population has been shifting. Along with this shift comes the inevitable shift in the country’s housing situation. With incomes and housing rates in flux, America’s housing situation has been steadily worsening and may very well reach a crisis point in the near future.

    In many areas of the US, a recent study finds, the average minimum-wage worker cannot afford the rent and utilities on an average apartment. This study assumes that no more than 30% of a worker’s income goes towards rent and utilities- the government considers a percentage higher than that to be too much. In a country where owning a home is a major status symbol, it is a cause of real concern when a large segment of the population cannot even afford to rent one. Are real estate costs getting out of control?

    For an average two-bedroom rental apartment in the United States, the average worker must earn, according to the government, in the area of $15 an hour. With the minimum wage currently at about a third of that amount, the fact is that many families cannot afford to keep the roofs over their heads, much less save money to someday buy a home. The fact remains that wage increases have simply not kept up with the booming costs of real estate rentals and utility costs. While rent costs are climbing, utility costs are climbing faster still. And it’s also worth noting that in areas where housing costs are lower, wages are on average also lower, so there is not much benefit to be gained by relocating. The minimum wage has not changed in the United States since 1997, while the costs of housing continue to rise.

    The US government has also fallen behind on their spending towards Section 8 rental vouchers, which help low-income people pay their rent. More landlords than ever before, particularly in metropolitan areas, accept Section 8 vouchers; but since government spending towards these vouchers has not kept up with demand, they are becoming more and more difficult to get. As housing costs increase, those who depended on Section 8 can no longer do so.

    Not surprisingly, rent in rural areas is the most affordable, and California is at the top of the list when it comes to hourly income needed to afford a typical apartment. It’s a difficult situation for anyone who is having trouble making their rent: The option to move somewhere cheaper, but make less money, is not much of an option.

  • March30th

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    How much can you afford to spend on your home?

    Posted in: Investment

    First time home buyers are faced with a maze of financial decisions. It’s a daunting task to sort through mortgage rates, credit scores, and monthly payments to determine exactly what your price range will be for your future home. Although bankers and real estate agents are there to assist you, it helps to start with a general idea of your bracket. Consider the following things when trying to make sense of your own cents.

    First of all, how much of a down payment will you be able to make? Down payments are the reason why first time home buyers are well advised to sack away cash for at least a year before they purchase. The more you can put down up front, the less you have to borrow… and the less interest you’ll accumulate.

    Once you figure out your down payment, do some research. This is where banks and real estate agents can be particularly helpful. You’ll need to get a feel for what kind of interest rates you could get on a home loan, as well as how much you can expect to pay in property taxes and insurance. Once you get an idea of what those numbers would be in your area and with your credit standing, you can get a rough idea of what kind of mortgage you may be looking at. Take a possible price for a home you may be considering. Subtract your down payment from that amount, and then add on the accumulation of interest, property taxes, and home insurance. This is the principal amount you will need to borrow in order to purchase that home. Now you need to discover whether or not you’re eligible to borrow that amount, and if you can afford the payments it would require.

    Keep in mind that when you do apply for a mortgage, the amount you’re able to borrow will be influenced by more than just your credit score. Lenders will also investigate your wages, your expected earnings in the near future, and any outstanding debts. All of this will factor into the calculation of how much you’re able to borrow, and what kind of rates you will receive. If the loan for which you’re approved turns out to be less than what you’ll need for the home you’re considering, you must either find a different lender and try to recalculate your terms, or find a less expensive property.

    If you’re considering purchasing a home in the future, start cleaning up your credit now. Work out payment plans on any outstanding debts, and get a copy of your report so that you can contest any errors. It’s also a good idea to start saving for your down payment well in advance. Having a good credit score and cash in the bank are the two most effective ways to get a good loan with a decent rate. If you don’t have those two things yet, you should consider putting off your home purchase until you do.

  • October30th

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    The Money Pit

    Posted in: Investment

    A dark legend in the world of real estate, the monster in the closet, the secret fear of all investors!
    Why do we do it?

    Why do we pour time and money, blood, sweat and tears, into a home renovation when the house turns out to be the equivalent of a lemon on the car lot?

    Maybe it’s because Americans love a challenge. Maybe it’s because we’re uneducated about what we’re getting ourselves into, and too proud to stop when we figure it out. Or maybe it’s a secret emotional attachment to the roofs over our heads that leads us to take on these houses that just won’t cooperate.

    Some people are getting smart. In fact, there’s a whole business devoted to those who want to weed out the lemons, and they’re ruthless about it when they get going. Professional house flippers, who renovate strictly for resale value and for profit, have learned how to take emotion out of the process. As soon as a professional house flipper sees signs of a money pit, they’re liable to bail, cut their losses, and call in the demo team.

    But it’s not the professionals that are getting in over their heads. The susceptible ones are those buying the Victorian on the corner that caught their eye. As far as they’re concerned, it just needs a little TLC. Even if it does have a condemned sign across the front door.

    Real estate has always been an American passion, but lately, with a huge boom in the market and an even larger boom in home renovation shows on television, we’ve become more and more obsessed with our homes. Maybe it’s this starry-eyed view on renovation, brought on by television shows where a house can be demolished and rebuilt in the course of a weekend that is causing the problems.

    Hidden problems are common in old and defective properties, but smart investors generally hire home inspectors who tell them what might be going on before they even sign the contract. If it looks like too much, they back out. It’s the private investors, the people determined to own a renovated classic that get into trouble. And that’s not to say they don’t hire inspectors. It just means they might not listen to them.

    If you purchase a money pit, the results could be disastrous. It could involve crews of grim men with water vacuums and boards and ladders. It could involve far more cash than you’ll ever gain back on the market if you decide to sell the thing.

    On the other hand, if you have the resources for it, refusing to back down when your house strikes back could be half the fun.

  • September30th

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    The House Flipping Trend

    Posted in: Investment

    Picture this: You purchase a run-down old house at a local auction. The house is falling apart, maybe even in the kind of ways that require Condemned signs, and you walk away thrilled to have spent $65,000 of your hard-earned money to own it. What world is this?

    This is the world of house-flipping. If you haven’t heard of house-flipping, chances are you don’t work in real estate.

    Then again, neither do many house-flippers, at least not at first. House-flipping is the new term devised for people who buy properties in bad shape, ideally with little structural damage but plenty of cosmetic wounds. These people rebuild the houses within a strict profit margin, and use a little real estate know-how to produce a salable house, ready for the market. Then they sell it for many times the price of original investment plus construction.

    With the real-estate market booming, more and more everyday people are getting involved in this business of fixing up real estate to sell. Some people live in the houses as they flip them; others just buy, buy, buy, send out crews, hold open houses, sell, and buy some more. It all depends on your budget, and the kind of flipping you’re willing to do.

    It generally takes a professional, with lots of investors and money in the right places, to take a truly destroyed property and make it salable. Amateurs do best sticking to houses that might have terrible paint (or no paint at all), ripped-up lawns, bad tile, and other cosmetic damage that they can fix at low cost. Once you get into the horrors that can be caused by termites, rotten wood, and caving ceilings, you’re probably talking about a job for the professionals.

    Of course, many shrewd house-flippers, even the ones with investment backing, won’t flip a house with too much damage. You might fall in love with a rustic old Victorian and cherish the idea of restoring it to glory, but the world of a house-flipper is all about profit. Those who get emotionally involved with the properties are in trouble. Before you know it you’ll find yourself in over your head trying to fix problems whose expense is going to far surpass what you might be able to sell the house for later. A true house flipper knows when to walk away.

    For anyone intrigued by this new trend in the real estate market, it helps to know as much as possible about your local real estate market. Maybe a house with some fairly serious damage is still worth the cost of repair if it’s located in a prime area. Informed flippers will know at a glance what might be worth their time. The world of house-flipping is an oddly shrewd one, considering the creature comforts they work with every day. These are people that are able to thrill over installing a cathedral ceiling, and walk away from it at a moment’s notice if it flies over budget. These are not people who go weak at the sight of old paneling. They might go weak, however, at the cost of repairing it.

    It all boils down to a numbers process. Those interested in house flipping should start slowly. Study the market, watch the numbers, and get advice wherever possible. When you make the plunge and purchase your first flippable house, congratulations. Now don’t get attached, because if you do your job correctly, it won’t be yours for long!

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