Many people consider buying property for investment reasons. After all, the real estate industry has produced a lot of the world’s millionaires and billionaires. Property is often a good investment because its value only increases over time, assuming, of course, that it receives proper care and maintenance. However, you need a significant amount of money to purchase property, and it is best to be as well-informed as possible before spending a lot on an investment.
Before finalizing any deals with your realtor, here are some things you might want to think about first.
1. If you are investing in setting up a rental business, you need to be ready to be a landlord.
Being a landlord has its perks, as you won’t need to work an eight-to-five job to earn a considerable amount of money. As long as you have tenants, you will have a steady income while relaxing on your couch and watching your favorite series on Netflix.
However, not everything is always easy in the rental business. If you become unlucky enough, you might get problematic tenants that can increase your stress levels and even cost your business with late payments or causing damage to the property.
You can avoid the headache of dealing with tenants by hiring a property manager, but that will add to the payroll and might not be applicable depending on your financial situation. If you do not think that you are cut out to be a landlord, you may want to rethink your investment plans.
2. Property investments are not a one-time thing.
You might believe that after paying a considerable sum of money as down payment and securing a home loan with a bank, you’re left to worry with just the monthly mortgage. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Owning property comes with paying for several fees such as insurance, maintenance, homeowner association fees, government taxes, and other property dues. Even if you don’t have any other loans to your name, the total of those amounts might overwhelm you if you are not prepared.
If you don’t have enough income to take care of additional fees every month, you might not be ready to own property yet.
3. Finding the right location and property to invest in can be challenging.
If you want to buy property because you want to use it for business, you must do your own research and do it well. For instance, if you are looking to rent your property, you don’t want to pick a declining or known location for its bad neighborhood. It would be best to consider property taxes since different locations require you to pay different amounts. Other factors like the job market around the place, the crime rate in the area, and how accessible it is to public transportation are also essential to consider.
Once you have your location set, you need to decide on which property you want to buy. Are you looking for granny flats, apartment-style residences, condominiums, or semi-detached houses? Purchasing a property is a one-way street unless you plan to refinance or flip it after renovation. Understanding precisely what you want to do first is vital in a successful investment.
4. Don’t ignore the interest rates being presented to you.
Don’t be fooled by the cheap cost of borrowing money, because it’s usually the interest rate that gets you in bad deals. The interest rates on investment properties are generally higher than the traditional rates of a regular mortgage. Be sure to look into all your options to compare the rates being presented to you. Several lending institutions can help you secure your property, so you need to make sure you check all of their offers so you can get the deal that best works with your finances.
A Final Word on Property Investments
The property business is not as easy as it seems. For example, if you fail to make your property attractive enough for tenants, you still need to pay all the expenses incurred during the renovation and your monthly dues. In a worst-case scenario, you might need to sell the property to lessen your total losses, but even that can be hard since real estate isn’t always that easy to liquidate. It may take months, even years, to find you a buyer depending on your selling.
If things go well, however, the real estate industry can be quite rewarding. Rental income isn’t part of your taxable income. You can also put your property into a self-directed individual retirement account to prepare yourself for the future. Finally, you have a lot of time on your hands while earning passive income, allowing you to pursue any other passion you want.
With these pros and cons in mind, you need to set realistic expectations when you invest in property. Just because others found success quickly does not mean you will do the same. Like any investment, buying property for business will have its fair share of risks and challenges, and you need to prepare yourself to handle these concerns if and when they come up.
