| |
| |
|
Real Estate Information |
|
|
|
4 Simple Tests To Find Good Real Estate Investment Properties
You're driving along the road when you spot it. There in the middle of a shaggy lawn sits a disheveled property. It may need a good coat of paint, or a shutter straightened out, but it's easy to see that with a little work it could be a little gem of a property. Best of all, sprouting in the middle of the unkempt grass is a For Sale by Owner sign. It looks like the perfect fixer-upper, but how do you know for sure? First, consider your reason for buying. If you're looking for a property to 'flip' - to buy low, fix up and sell for a profit - there are a number of things you'll want to take into consideration. If your intent is to buy it as rental property, there's a different set of consideration, and if you're looking for a home of your own, there's yet a third. Let's assume, for the sake of this article, that your intent is to flip the property for profit. Test 1: The Neighborhood Test Before you invest another hour, do yourself a favor and take stock of the surroundings. The old saying in the real estate business that the three factors in selling a home are 'location, location and location'. What is the location like? No matter how wonderful the property is, you'll have a difficult time selling it for top price in a bad neighborhood. That doesn't mean that it's a bad property - depending on how low a price you can bargain, you still may be able to make a decent profit from it. Another consideration in the Neighborhood Test is a bit more subjective, and you'll have a feel for it if you're local and keep an ear to the ground. Is the neighborhood in transition? A neighborhood that is on the cusp of a renewal effort like gentrification can be a great place to invest, as long as the upward momentum continues. An area that is on the outskirts of new development will often benefit from that as well. If, on the other hand, the neighborhood shows signs of slipping into a decline, you might want to pass the property by. If you can see that the neighborhood is slipping, so will prospective buyers. Are there 'amenities' nearby? Depending on the neighborhood and your prospective market, those amenities might include a neighborhood school with a good reputation, a corner store within walking distance, or a park right down the street. In one Massachusetts city, for example, the value of properties in a formerly depressed neighborhood skyrocketed when a local university announced a commitment to provide full tuition to the children of neighborhood residents, and provided additional incentives to home buyers within several blocks of their campus. Investors who bought just before the announcement realized excellent turnaround on their investment. Test 2: The Pricing Test Is the home listed with a Realtor, or is it a FSBO? How realistic is the asking price? Is it in your price range? Can you work out a low or no-money-down financing option? How open to negotiation is the seller? Will you be able to realize a profit after making needed repairs? Test 3: The Condition Test This is one of the most important tests. The property you want to buy doesn't require any extensive, expensive repairs. It should be structurally sound, without any major plumbing or electrical problems. If you're just starting out, you'll want a property with repairs you can manage yourself - repainting, refinishing floors, a little landscaping. If the property requires more extensive repairs, it will cut into your profit, or eliminate it altogether. When you view the property, really kick the tires. Look for indicators of hidden problems. Here are a few things to look for:
Test 4: The Title Test The final test is the title test. Be certain that the title to the property is clear, with no liens or attachments that could sour the sale. If there are, and you still want the property, work out a conditional sale, where your purchase is contingent upon the liens being satisfied. If the property passes all of the above tests with flying colors, congratulate yourself. You've got yourself an investment property that could turn a pretty profit for you. Andrew is the web owner of Real Estate Investment Tips, a website that provides informational guide on real estate investment, foreclosure home and more. You can visit his website at:http://www.buy-and-sell-house-fast.com/
MORE RESOURCES:
Real-Estate - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Bubble Effect Turn on the TV at almost any time day or night and you will find news and talk shows informing us that there is a Real Estate bubble. What is a "bubble" and how do they know? The simple principle of what goes up must come down is being applied in general thought now and many in the public are starting to buy it. Evil Gains Entry When we open our doors to strangers, we can never be certain what malice an outsider might bring in. Police officers tell us to keep our doors locked with good reason. Planning for Real Estate with Estate Planning One of the most important considerations you will need to make in regards to your real estate holdings and your estate includes tax planning. If not handled properly, your estate could end up getting hit with significant losses due to taxes after your demise. 18 Easy Steps to Buy a Bargain House What is a "distressed" property? What is "bargain" real estate?A distressed property is one with a distressed seller. Job loss or transfer, divorce, death, pending foreclosure, and lack of money cause sellers to sell fast for less. Are You Profiting From O.P.P.? Are you profiting from O.P. Late Mortgage Payments Sabotage PMI Cancellation There's something you should know about PMI!Private mortgage insurance is commonly referred to as PMI. If a buyer makes a down payment of less than 20% of a home's value the lender will insist that a premium for PMI be added to every monthly payment. Helpful Hints for First-Time Home Buyers Buying a house can be a daunting task, even for someone who has owned several homes. My husband and I recently purchased our first home together, and it was hard to find good advice that we truly found useful. Understanding Opportunity Cost When Investing In Property While most investors have got involved in property investing because they understand the opportunities to make money through leverage and capital growth or high yields, I still see and hear of many who do not fully understand opportunity cost.Remember anyone that gets into property is usually in it to generate money or income - how many deals/properties you own is insignificant. Do You Need to Download a Landlord Inventory On-Line Today? Do you need to download a Landlord Inventory on-line now? Why is it so important to have a Landlord Inventory?Firstly, if you are a landlord, you need to be prepared. As much as we all like to think we can trust everyone, it is very important that buy to let landlords protect their investment property as thoroughly as possible. What are the Top 11.5 Criteria for Selecting an Orlando Investment Property 1. Make sure units are larger than 1800 square feet. Landscaping Adds Great Value to Real Estate And Helps You Sell Over the years several of our clients have had professional landscaping done and it's amazing to me how little landscaping, can be done for $5-10,000, by a professional Landscaper, and how little value it can add to your home.Small shrubs, trees, and plantings add almost nothing, or actually nothing at all, to your home value on the open market -- until they are several years older! There is another way!Some savvy investors look for good homes that are poorly landscaped and after spending a couple of thousand dollars or less put the property right back on the market for much more money and sell it. The 21st Century Way To Build Equity Here to stay and firmly established in the U.S. New Home Construction - The American Dream or The American Nightmare? Buying a new home is suppose to be the American Dream. Unfortunately, for many buyers of newly constructed homes it becomes the American Nightmare. How to Become a Successful Real Estate Investor Many folks dream of becoming real estate investors, but not everyone has what it takes. If you're dreaming of becoming an investor, here are several important questions to consider, long before you buy your first investment property:1) Why would a homeowner sell a house at a bargain price?Many things happen in people's lives that make their home suddenly become a burden. Renting a House Renting a house or a room in your home is a great business that millions of people take advantage of to make some extra cash. While many people rent houses each year, not all of them are successful. The Listing Contract: Its All in the Details Now that you've chosen a real estate professional to sell your home, you'll need to work together to complete a listing agreement. This legally binding contract authorizes a broker and his or her real estate professionals to find a buyer for your home, according to the conditions specified in the contract. 10 Tips to Sell Your House Faster! Here are some Handy wee Tips to help you Sell Your House Faster. These are all 'tried and true' tips we've gathered over years of Buying and Selling Houses, so I know for sure that they work!1. Log Homes - What is the Log-Home Lifestyle? Typical log home company advertisements in popular log home magazines talk about the "log home lifestyle" or "it's not just a home, it's a lifestyle." What does this mean? What is "the" log home lifestyle?It's often difficult to discuss the particulars of log home living without also talking about where the log home is located. Questions To Ask The Landlord Before Renting His Apartment Apartment hunting is not the easiest thing around. You may find places not suited to your tastes or those which do are not to your budget. Real Estate Investing: Infomercial and Mentoring Scams Flipping through late-night infomercials recently, I saw two real estate get-rich quick schemes, and I couldn't help but wonder why people still fall for those old scams? Has anyone really talked a seller out of his home for no money down with owner financing lately?Real estate infomercials do great harm to beginning investors, who waste hundreds of dollars on old information. Worse yet, those beginners soon get discouraged and miss out on the true (and profitable) adventure of real estate investing.
|
 Home  Contact
|
| Real Estate Information © 2006 |
