Tips On Buying Investment Properties » real estate investments

Real Estate Investment Guide

Matt Leitz — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:25:47 +0000

by Matt Leitz
Real estate investment is one of the most rapidly growing investment options. It is a venture that is bound to yield returns with time; therefore, the housing sector is the best choice. If you are able to realize the dream of investing in real estate, the returns that one gets are very attractive. Owing to this fact, many companies have come up with real estate investment guides, some of which don't offer much help. Therefore, we are providing insight that will aid you substantially if you choose to become a real estate investor.

Lower Buying Price A good investment property will come at a lower buying price compared to the current market prices. The reasons as to why sellers settle for low prices are many. They may range from emergencies, diseases, urgent need for cash or even divorce. If the property being offered is expensive, it means you may need to wait for longer before you receive your investment worth. Be informed that most properties may come at lower prices and may need furnishing before they can be used. In such cases, you will need to identify the costs of upgrading or furnishing before you buy.

Short term investment This occurs when a person buys a house and immediately sells it off to make a profit. The advantage of this venture is that profits are almost guaranteed. Also compared to long term investments the period of waiting and speculating is short. Extra hidden costs may apply here, therefore, you should be careful. If you end up investing in a house that will need substantial upgrading and repair, you may overstretch your budget and therefore increase the selling price to a level you did not anticipate. It is advisable to value the property properly before purchasing it.

Long term investment This involves the buying property that is anticipated to appreciate with time therefore helping you to receive good returns. Because you will have to wait for a long period for your returns to come due, long term commitment and patience is necessary. However, the returns that you will receive are bound to be substantial that may stretch for many years. However, there are laws and regulations that have to be adhered to in this type of investment. These involve contracts, payments, taxes and tenant rights.

Whichever real estate investment you may choose, be sure to seek for advice before you get into a deal else it will frustrate you.

About the Author:
Matt Leitz, the owner of the website http://www.RealEstateInvestor.com has created a great community for real estate investors to interact with like minded groups and individuals which finally helps them in increasing their business. Real Estate Investor helps to discover the real secrets of investing in real estate and making huge profits.

Investing Rental Property

Jason Myer — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:39:52 +0000

House reselling has become such a normal practice that purchasing rental property is pretty much uninteresting by comparison. The attraction of the the resell is easily understood a visible investment, artistic renovations or remodeling, driving the cost up as high as possible but, the main thing, the glare of the immediate return.

A flipped property pays for itself right away and also leaves enough of a surplus to make the investment have been worth it. There are even TV shows dedicated to it! Why then, would anyone be interested in leasing out instead of selling right away? There are many reasons.

First and foremost, there is no guarantee that a purchase will happen right away, especially at the center of an economic crisis. While there will almost always be a market for quality properties that are reasonably priced, more and more tenants are looking to save money by renting which means the market is or will be flooded with potential tenants from the get go.

While it may be possible that a resold property pays for itself (with some left over) on the short term, it is also a fact that the correct rental property will pay for itself again and again in the future. Lastly, a property has been sold create a solid amount of money where on the other hand a rented property gives you a a solid amount of rent over an extended period of time, giving you a kind of security that even the most lucrative of house flipping careers can't match.

Investing in rental property requires study, some money and a long term commitment. An investor should be aware of the kinds of properties he can invest in (single homes, condos or homes for more than one family) their respective good things and bad things (amount of your full commitment they need, potential income they create) and as well the local and global real estate market (types are wanted right now, what is the average price of rent). Under the correct set of events and with the right investor it can make a valuable and extended source of income.

Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes as a hobby about real estate investment. He's also interested in real estate financing.

Real Estate Investing

Jason Myer — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:40:45 +0000

Real estate markets tend to be not as efficient as the more liquid markets which apparently provide better investment opportunities. Scouting properties is not easy. This requires a lot of effort, transactional risk. Real estate investors generally use a source to pinpoint where they can obtain bargain properties such as market listings, wholesalers, public auctions and private sales.

When a specific area for an investment property has been pinpointed, it has to be subjected to an investigation of its status. The property is checked consequently. Then the investor will have to come to an understanding with the seller regarding the terms of the property and its corresponding rate.

A contract of sale can be finalized thereafter. Investors generally take advantage of the experience of real estate agents in providing assistance with the acquisition of the property. This is sort of complex in nature and if it is not well complied with it can turn very costly. An investor will initially start the steps with earnest money and will make an offer which is formal to the seller. This is to hold the rights to the property and start the process of negotiating.

This earnest money points to the seller that the investor is seriously considering buying the property. This money is refundable in case the negotiations breakdown.

Assets in real estate are generally expensive in comparison to other investments. Real estate agents will very rarely pay the full amount in cash to buy a property. More often a part of it will be financed utilizing a mortgage loan. If an investor finances with cash, this is called equity. Investors opt to lessen their equity portion and step up their leverage. Investors who request for more leverage can accomplish this by making alternate arrangements in purchasing the property.

Several groups who manage real estate investments allow pension funds, capital reserves to be used to purchase properties.

Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes as a hobby about real estate investing. He's also interested in invest in real estate.

A Quick Guide On Real Estate Foreclosure

Jason Myers — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:04:30 +0000

Real estate foreclosure originally begins with a default in payment made by the borrower. It pertains to a legal procedure which allows a lender to take back the possession on the defaulted property. If payments have been neglected continuously up to half a year then the lender files what is so called Default Notice.

The lender notifies the borrower up to five days to start a reinstatement period. The state will lay down a repayment procedure and repayment sum for the borrower to stop the process of real estate foreclosure. This is called the pre-foreclosure period.

If the loan on default is not properly carried out, a state period for the foreclosure is put in place. A Notice of Sale will be issued to the borrower. This Notice will also be transmitted to the County Recorder's Office where the property is located. It will also be published in the print media. The property is sold during this point to the highest bidder. A deposit will have to be made upfront. The bidder will then obtain the trustee's deed. This enables the borrower to pay the loan on default and ascertain that the credit report does not have a default stated.

Sometimes the mortgage lender himself will take possession. This may be carried out through an agreement with the borrower in the pre-foreclosure period. Generally the lender will prefer to deal the property and recover the loan. The lender will render the essential housekeeping the property may require.

The foreclosing lender arranges the auction and an opening bid. This equals to the borrower's loan balance which is outstanding, accrued interest, attorney fees and any miscellaneous fees involved. If the highest bid is less than the opening bid, the attorney will buy the property on behalf of the lender. In case the opening bid is not duly completed, the property is labeled as real Estate Owned.

Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes as a hobby about real estate investing. He's also interested in invest in real estate.

Bargain Properties

Doc Schmyz — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:08:28 +0000

Bargain Properties ? How To Play This Game.

by Doc Schmyz

Home foreclosures and fixer-uppers have long been a focus of many real estate investors looking to make big profits. Of course, if the target property doesn't meet certain criteria, an investor can lose their investment as well as any profit that was to be gained.

A cautious and methodical approach is best in this decision making process. Keeping that in mind, here are some critical area's that must be considered when looking at real estate bargains for investing purposes.

Please Note: The following elements discussed are not listed in any particular order. Nor do they all hold the same value in relation to each other, but they must ALL must be considered in their entirety. The property should meet at least one of the criteria, and should have no unjustifiable issues in any one single area.

Here is the list to used:

KNOW WHY THE PRICE

Most investors focus on price first.

They search for properties they think are selling below market value. This makes sense buy low and sell high right?? However think about the reasons behind the sales price? What is their motivation? Are they relocating or in financial duress? The 3 D's come in to play here most of the time. (Death Divorce, Debt)

Are there problems with the property that will cost a small fortune to fix? Out dated plumbing? Poor electrical wiring? In older houses these problems are VERY common. Don't forget to consider holding costs.

Holding costs are one of the biggest profit killers to investors. Taxes, mortgage, commissions to agents (both selling and buying) gas, and electric...all these things add up...and FAST.

A poor understanding of the current market value is another major deal killer. Remember market value is an educated guess at best. No one really knows until the appraisal is complete.

Price other property in the area. Come as close to the size/style/lot size you are looking at buying.

PAY ATTENTION TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS

What areas can you leverage besides price and location? Financing?

In some cases a full price purchase can allow you to leverage the terms to mean a lower interest rate or smaller down payment.

STUDY THE LOCAL MARKET

Good investors get in the habit of understanding the lay of the land. What is the local community like? Where are the closest fire/police/EMS services? How good are the local schools? Don't rule out these questions. Make sure to look in to the last houses sold in the area as well as any selling trends you can find.

As the Man Said...It is All About Location.

If your shooting for a long term tenet or residence then location is the second most critical thing to look at...however if you have a chance to turn a good profit for a ugly house in a less than 4 star area...that profit might out shine a nice little bungalow on the beach.

FIXER UPPERS AND FORECLOSURES

In the case of a fix and flip and sometimes a foreclosure. It is the job of the investor to factor in the repair costs. A keen eye can save you lots of money in a very short time. (Not to mention a good understanding of home repair work)

Fixer upper properties are a treasure trove to a savvy investor. If you have a good eye for details and can spot maintenance problems you can make a nice return on your investment. Things like a bad roof, poor plumbing or a bad foundation can be very costly to repair. Once you have an idea of what you're looking at for repair cost, do yourself a favor and add a little buffer say 5%...just to be safe.

Know What it is ZONED For

Make sure you research the zoning for the property BEFORE you buy it. If you are thinking of adding a second floor or a granny flat...is the zoning available? Make sure you know before you commit to doing anything that will add or change the square footage of the property.

Think of it this way, what could make you more money...a single small house on the land you just invested in...Or a duplex on the same land? One tenet or two? Zoning is a gift or a curse depending on your plans with the property...makes sure you know before you buy it.

Classic zoning "no-no's" are garages converted to bedrooms. Non-permitted mother in-law apartment and detached garages.

About the Author:

Doc has been a investor since the early 1990's. In 2006 he started a real estate investing information website. He hopes to help other investors by giving them the information on real estate services that will help them

Real Estate Investing During Poor Economic Times

Doc Schmyz — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:17:16 +0000

by Doc Schmyz

First let's establish a few ground rules for this article.

1) The market has had a down turn before and people still made money.

2) Not every deal will fall into a cookie cutter format.

3) Not every tactic or idea works in EVERY state/province. Check local laws pertaining to real estate transactions.

Ok..now that we understand the rules...lets move forward.

So home values have fallen in your market, this doesn't mean that you, as a real estate investor/professional, are out of luck. It only means you need to add new tools to your real estate investing tool box. (Be warned I use "tool box" a lot.)

Finding and Marketing property

Besides the normal channels of RE agents and brokers (still the best way to find good investments in my opinion) you have a huge amount or resources at your fingertip with the Internet.

You can join website communities for investors, follow blogs, get in on group discussion etc. All of these things can lead to new and interesting deals.

Several investments have come to me via the web. I also have gotten many tips from other investors on investments and financing issues. Never over look the value of belonging to an "investor community website."

I truly feel that in the future the majority of investing will shift to being web related. Not just in finding investment projects but in doing the research for them as well as the funding process and the marketing/exit strategy as well.

Finance

Everyday we are hearing about how the current market and credit crunch is making getting loans harder for everyone. This is currently a fact. No way around it. The loan process has changed. So what options are left?? The answer is several.

Lease options. Assumable loans. Seller financing.

The above mentioned will become the big trends in the next couple of years. I am waiting to see the lenders change the loan guidelines in the next few months to "re introduce" the assumable loan. We are already seeing a HUGE trend in short sales. (This was a practice that was used only in limited capacity in the last 10 years by most lenders now it seems like every other distressed listing is a short sale in some cities.)

Please do not let the current market conditions scare you in to sitting this investment period out. On the contrary use it to inspire you. Take the time to do the research on finance options, look into building a LLC perhaps. Find out about buying real estate with your IRA. Etc, etc.

Buy books. Read investment strategies of the big names in investing. Use the time to educate yourself and above all be creative.

Don't Let Panic Drive You Off with Everyone Else.

About the Author:

Doc Schmyz has worked with investors all over the U.S.. His website gives thousands of investors up to date real estate investing information Get more info from across the U.S. on Doc's real estate investing resources page.

What Is A Safe Real Estate Investment?

Alexandria P. Anderson — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:12:47 +0000

by Alexandria P. Anderson

Do you have jitters about putting your money towards a real estate investment? After-all, the media LOVES to talk about what tumultuous times we're in right now. Home prices falling! Buyers beware! Protect yourself!

Never believe anyone that tells you an investment is 100% safe and smart. EVERYTHING that you do with your money has a certain amount of risk involved with it, even if it's just putting bills under your mattress; speaking of which, let's talk about what happens if you do NOTHING with the money you save (e.g., putting it under your mattress). That wouldn't be very smart--fire, flood, theft, etc. could make your money disappear very quickly with no hope for return.

But, you say, what if I put my money in a bank safety-deposit box, won't THAT keep my money safe? Yes, it will keep the physical paper currency safe, but remember that the bills are only worth what the current value of the currency is. Over time the buying power of currency goes down (inflation!).

The annual rate of inflation in the United States hovers around 3% ("things" cost about 3% more every year). That means after one year of sitting in the secure bank box doing nothing, your money is worth 3% less. This wouldn't be called "saving" in my opinion; you're constantly losing purchasing power!

What About a Savings Account?

These accounts are almost always protected by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) so there's not much risk of your bank going under and you losing your money, but again you're swimming upstream against the current of inflation. Even the best savings accounts out there barely give you enough interest to counteract inflation and often times inflation is outpacing your savings account interest earnings; but at least you're not losing AS much!

How About Stocks?

I like to think of investing in stocks as investing in an "idea". You don't hold claim to any tangible item. You only "own" the fact that you have contributed funds to the "idea" that the entity you contributed your money to will somehow add value to itself and subsequently add a gain to the money you started out with.

The danger here is that you wouldn't surely know how much control you have over such an "idea". In real sense, you actually have almost none. Most people remedy this by doing extensive research on the company or entity's track record as well as the people around it (to predict if the "idea" will work for all of you). Unfortunately, it's hard to tell especially if you are unaware of all the factors involved. Unless you have the desired technical preparation (i.e. its your profession, or you devote your time on research), investing in stocks would save you from much greater risk. This leads us now to the best possible option, the real estate.

What primarily distinguishes real estate from the ones mentioned above is its being "tangible" (this presupposes that you can experience it with all your senses: you can see it, touch it, and even improve it.) Likewise, the risk involved as far as losing the physical asset is concerned seemed distant. If it does, there's a wonderful thing called insurance! Can you apply the same in the case of stocks? Your property's value also grows with inflation unlike paper currency so you do not have to worry about your investment losing its purchasing power every year.

Finally, the best thing in real estate is that the return of your investment is intensified! To name a few, you get huge tax breaks, gained equity through renter-paid debt reduction, equity gained through improvements, and many other surprising benefits. Can real estate investment protect your money? While it is true that no investment is a hundred percent safe, with forethought, I can definitely assure you that this is where you'll find the security you're looking for.

About the Author:

About the Author: Alexandria P. Anderson is a Golden Valley Minnesota Real Estate agent that helps people to find and purchase Golden Valley houses in Minnesota.