Some Basics in Real Estate Investing

Investing in Real Estate has been a very lucrative business for decades dating back to the great depression and possibly longer if it was documented. A person with knowledge about land and property has a great chance to earn big in real estate ventures. Real Estate investment isn?t easy but you?ll get a lot of perks later from experience and understanding the nature of the business. Like most start-up businesses or even doing it part time, initially it will require a lot of research, will power, and persistence in order to succeed, gain knowledge and allow your investment property to grow into a profit. Investing in real estate is risky because it involves a external factors beyond the investors control such as tenants and as of late natural disasters. With the proper planning these can also be overcome.

When we?re talking about investment real estate, the first thing that comes to mind is a rental property or an apartment building, whereby the owner is receiving income on the property they own. This income is used to offset the debt payment the owner has on that property. In addition, to having someone help pay your mortgage, your investment property may increase in value. Typically, the increased value in real estate has exceeded the rate of inflation. But real estate as an inflation hedge varies from locality to locality. Also, leverage exists with real estate since a high percentage of the investment may be made with a mortgage.

There are two major categories in real estate and these are residential and commercial. Usually, real estate owners invest in rental properties like apartment buildings which are still considered residential if under 5 units. The purchase of commercial properties is mainly for leasing to others or to start up a business. But these days, people also want to invest in commercial properties such as fast foods restaurants, markets, small office buildings, or retail shops. Usually commercial investing is riskier because it requires more initial capital and interest rates are higher than residential properties. Residential income property is high in demand because it?s one of the primary needs of the people especially those who live in or close to the city.

Purchasing real estate requires researching the subject property. Firstly, you must consider the location of the investment property because every locality has different characteristics that attract people. One can usually get answers from a local realtor or city planner in the desired area on the development of the area. As a general rule, property that has close access to businesses, good schools, stores and recreation areas is usually in high demand. Additional research involves inspecting the property title report to make sure it is transferable, physical interior and exterior inspection from a professional and a projected financial report on the property. This is one reason why an investor needs a good real estate agent and mortgage broker who have expert knowledge to find you the right property, to put you in the proper mortgage program and have these related professionals available. It?s their line of expertise and that?s why real estate investors contact them in terms of real estate matters. So, are you ready to invest?

Real Estate Investing - Residential or Commercial?

Some real estate investment advisors believe that if you are just beginning real estate investing you should avoid commercial real estate, such as office buildings, shopping centers, and warehouses for the following reasons:

It’s more complicated and does require a greater knowledge of law, zoning and leasing regulations, financing etc. Residential apartment buildings also fall into this category even though they’re used as residential property for the tenants it’s still a commercial enterprise for the investor and since it is a multi-tenant commercial building on land zoned for that purpose it will differ greatly from residential property in it’s maintaining, leasing, valuing, financing, and a host of other things.

According to a study in The Economist, residential property investment was $48 trillion and commercial real estate investment was $14 trillion. There are a lot more potential renters in the residential market than in the commercial one. During economic recessions which can occur every 5 to 10 years, marginal businesses fail at a faster rate. This can mean negative cash flow for you because of high vacancy rates if your tenants are included in these volatile businesses. Although residential rental demand also goes through these cycles, there is always a greater number of potential renters for house and condos than there is for commercial properties.

The profitability rewards are bigger but so is the learning curve. Mortgages are structured differently and building insurance is more expensive. Also to consider are the costs of fire suppression, security, and air-conditioning systems along with telephone and internet facilities.

Consider the right type of residential properties.
Location, price and condition. Do your research and find a property in an appreciating neighbourhood. Remember, properties appreciate for only two reasons: inflation and increased demand.

About 70% of Americans live in 3 bedroom dwellings so 3 or 4 bedroom houses or condos should be your target as they are the easiest to sell, the toughest to sell are 1 and 2 bedroom homes. Only consider properties that are in good condition also unless you want a job as a handyman. Fixer-uppers are only good if you have the extra time or are in the home remodeling business which then would make good sense.

Living in it or renting it?
When buying a property as a rental investment, stick to the lower end of the price spectrum. Rental properties should be about 20% lower than the average home price for an area. The best rental market is for moderately priced but attractive houses because if most renters could afford to buy, they would. The goal for rental properties should be for neutral to positive cash flow whereas the goal for a personal residence is affordable payments.

Choose a property with up to 4 units.
A duplex or fourplex can be a great investment because your tenants will be making your mortgage payments for you and you can live in one of the suites. Now some investors will say this is not a good idea and they would never do it because the tenants would always be bothering them for something. I have done this with great success and without any headaches. You just need to make sure everything is kept up and you need to have a good read for people that you allow to be your tenants. So, up to 4 units is great but anything over that starts to get a bit hectic and closer to the commercial side of investing, which for the novice, isn’t recommended.

Getting Involved In Commercial Real Estate Investing

People choose residential and commercial real estate investing for many reasons. They may find that the property market is safer than the stock market, the potential for monetary returns is much higher than in other areas, or they enjoy buying old homes, remodeling them, and selling them for a much higher price than what they bought them for.

Whatever the reasons, investing in property requires people to know a little about the market, how to buy and sell homes quickly, and when to walk away from a potential deal. People who want to invest in should also understand tax laws and land laws in their area before they spend money in the housing market.

Taking a few business or real estate classes is a good idea for those who are just starting out. These classes are offered through colleges, private schools, or agencies. Lectures about selling will provide valuable information about what to look for when buying a home, where to spend money on improvements, and where to advertise when selling a home. Real estate investing will take up a lot of time, but the pay off could be great. Some people will sell a few homes and then retire on the money they have made. By making good business decisions, this can be the reality for many people.

Your not limited to just residential properties either. Commercial real estate investing includes properties such as retail space, office buildings, warehouses, and storage facilities are also have great potential for making money. Investing in this type of thing will generate a monthly income as long as the space can be rented out for most of the year. Those who are careful about who they rent their building to could have a steady income for a few years. Most leases on commercial properties are at least three years or more. Selling these properties can also benefit a person if they can buy another one after making the sale.

When looking at a piece of property, there is more to look at than its potential for making money. People need to investigate the plumbing, electrical, and roof structure before making a purchase. These can be very expensive to replace and may require too much time. While a home or commercial property may be large enough, the property itself may be too small.

It is important to research what these properties are worth and how much they may be worth over time when getting into residential and commercial real estate investing. This will be one of the deciding factors when purchasing property. Since the market is continually changing, property values will constantly shift from high to low. It is important to be aware of these shifts and only buy property when it will be profitable.

About the Author

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on creative real estate investing and real estate investing at http://www.realestateinvestingguru.com

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