Profitable Investment Properties November 15, 2009
Posted by janey in : second mortgages , comments closedAt one time, investment properties were the secret to creating a sound retirement foundation and creating a steady stream of supplemental income. Many Americans paid off their mortgages and invested in rental complexes or began flipping houses as a way to bring in extra capital. For years, this worked beautifully… until the housing market crashed. Yet, do not be fooled by the doom and gloom, for an opportunist sees even greater possibilities. The large inventory awards potential investors deep discounts and, with many markets poised on rebounding, it’s never been a better time to invest in real estate, so long as you do it wisely.
One type of profitable investment property is the vacation home market. Many investors look into overseas property where conditions are favorable to American investors. According to the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, a non-profit trade group, some of the best foreign places to invest are safe bets like London, England; Paris, France; Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore; Munich, Germany; Sydney, Australia; and Hong Kong. The idea with buying investment property overseas is that you must look for location, location, location! Choosing a safe, industrialized city, which sees a good deal of tourism each year is a smart bet. Many investors also like coastal beach properties to rent out as well. According to the editors of Live and Invest Overseas Magazine, the top coastlines to check out are: Veraguas (Panama), the Samana Peninsula (Dominican Republic), the Rocha province (Uruguay), Salinas (Ecuador) and Boracay (Philippines).
Creative real estate investment properties include mixed-use buildings, which are becoming more and more popular nationwide. Instead of purchasing office complex investment properties, a buyer would purchase a building that contains office space, condo/apartment/hotel units, restaurants, shopping facilities and entertainment venues. Since there are different types of businesses in mixed-use buildings, the space is more likely to weather any kind of economic storm. Los Angeles engineer Wayne Kalayjian says that mixed-use is an emerging movement and cultural shift, not just a passing trend. “Under this concept, our homes, shops, offices and transportation centers are more integrated and in close proximity,” he says, “which decreases commuting time and expense, conserves energy, heightens quality of life and enhances a feeling of community. And it’s particularly attractive in our suburbs, which are especially susceptible to urban sprawl.” The ideal location for such US property is in a thriving metropolitan city or active suburban community, where a lot of people live, work and play.
Often times, investment properties are run-down buildings sold at dirt-cheap prices by people who are skilled in flipping houses. In the past, this has been a way for property owners to score huge profits. They usually repaint, update the bathroom and kitchen, re-carpet or install wood flooring, slap a new front door on the house and sell it for three or four times’ what they paid for it. Yet the primary factor for housing is still location. You will also have to have a realistic assessment of what you’d pay for the renovation projects and what prospective buyers will pay for the property. Investing in real estate shouldn’t be done on a whim, but rather with thoughtful preparation.
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Investing In Apartments For Sale November 14, 2009
Posted by janey in : second mortgages , comments closedWhen you’re looking at apartments for sale, you’ll want to have a business model that provides you with at least $100 per unit, says Jeffrey Taylor, author of “The Landlord’s Kit” (2002). This is the money you’ll make investing in real estate after you pay the mortgage on the building, the property taxes, the insurance and all other expenses. You will also need to be putting aside emergency repair fund money to cover any unexpected problems or vacancies. It’s best for first-time investors to start small and work their way up, he cautions. People have a tendency to bite off more than they can chew. That being said, there are several points to consider when perusing apartment buildings for sale.
When looking at apartments for sale, the first thing to consider is the location. The surrounding area is one of the predominant factors when people are looking for a place to live. They want to live near bus stops, grocery stores and laundry facilities if they do not have cars. They want to live near gas stations, grocery stores and major highways if they do have cars. Tenants want easy access to restaurants, post offices, public parks, day care facilities and decent schools. Invest in real estate in an area with relatively low crime, stability and well-lit streets if you plan to charge top dollar. You may also want to consider looking for apartment buildings for sale in college towns, where there is always a steady stream of tenants.
Next, you’ll need to check the condition of the apartments for sale. You can invest in real estate that is in-need of remodeling if you have invested once before and have a surplus of renovation-ready capital. However, if this will be your first venture buying investment property, you will want a place that has been maintained and is ready for immediate occupation. Ideally, you want there to be little to no delays from the time you purchase the building to the time you start generating income. You needn’t lose sleep over dated appliances or missing molding, but larger repairs can drain your profit and put you into debt before you can even get rolling.
To find apartments for sale, you should begin with the most convenient search method, which of course is the internet and websites like www.realestate.com, www.loopnet.com or www.buyincomeproperties.com. This will give you a good idea of what buildings for sale are out there and what the list prices are. You can also check out traditional sources like newspapers or trade publications. Sometimes just taking a drive might reveal a good place to buy investment property. Often a good real estate agent can help you find the best properties, including expired listings and unlisted buildings.
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