Investment Real Estate

Some economists link the buying habits of “baby boomers” to the demand for homes in this country. They argue that the population will stabilize or decline as these potential buyers age and their children are grown.

What is left out of such a picture is that the emerging real estate market is made up of people who are immigrating to this country. When these newcomers have achieved a stable income, they look for the best living situation they can find, often preferring buying to renting.

Real estate continues to be an attractive investment opportunity. If you are sitting out the current market because you are afraid that the appreciation won’t continue, you may want to re-think your decision. Today’s market is providing opportunities for homeowners and smart investors from all over the globe.

If you are the owner of an investment property, you are responsible when something breaks down in the building. So when the tenants call with an emergency, you will need to have a list of local repair companies you can contact, and money in the bank to pay for their services.

One of the best ways to protect your property investment is to purchase a home warranty that covers your home against unexpected system breakdowns that can be costly, particularly if the heating or plumbing systems need repair. The yearly cost of a good home warranty is probably less than the cost of replacing a broken water heater. If your property is older, a home warranty will provide you with greater security and peace of mind.

Another way to plan for investment property repairs is by building up a monthly surplus account, where part of your positive cash flow can sit in preparation for the day some major repair is needed. Having a “rainy day” fund will relieve you of financial stress when something has to be fixed.

One of the most important factors that affect the value of property is obviously location. Wise investment philosophy suggests that you invest in a sound property in a more modest area that will increase in value in the future. Buying into an area that is being gentrified, or that is otherwise coming back, is one way to do this.

Timing is everything, however! Most investors don’t want to risk too much by being a pioneer, but want to get involved early enough so that there is still considerable room for appreciation in value. Being a pioneer is fine if you are a risk-taker with a lot of patience and cash is not the primary issue. Otherwise, it is safer to buy into an area after the restoration trend is unmistakably established.

Neighborhoods that are ripe for restoration have some common characteristics. They are next to a prestigious area or in a good walk-to-work location and have houses that are basically in good condition or “fixer-uppers” with realistic price tags.

Real estate agents can provide you with information about how the local market has performed historically, in order to help you work out a strategy for investing in real property.

Historically, real estate has been a superb long-term investment. Many people have created fortunes on short-term investments in hot markets. Remember that the local market will be influenced by factors beyond your control, such as interest rates, economic trends, local employment opportunities, and the demand for and availability of rental housing. All of these factors are subject to change, so timing is crucial. A slow market can mean real values for buyers, but a fast market could heat up for several years, pricing timid buyers out of the market. Your real estate agent can’t predict the future, but he or she can help you interpret the present.

While it is impossible to predict what a particular house will be worth at any point in the future, single family homes have a track record of being excellent investments. If you want to take the plunge, what should you look for in an investment property?

Location is the prime factor. A great location will make a property easier to rent or sell later on for top dollar. You should also consider the cash flow situation. It is often difficult to break even or show a profit from your rental income for the first few years of owning a property. Assuming the property will appreciate as you own it, you should consider the potential amount of equity you will build up each year. If you are planning to become a landlord, it is a good idea to consult a real estate agent and an accountant to help make sure that your decision to purchase investment real estate is an informed one.

When you buy an investment property, there are two important financial goals to consider. You will want a property capable of producing rental income. When you sell, you hope that the property will have appreciated enough that you will earn a good profit on your investment. If your property has enjoyed a healthy appreciation, you may need to do some careful planning to avoid paying out most of your profits in the form of capital gains taxes.

When selling your primary residence, you may be able to defer your capital gains taxes when you buy your next home. This does not apply, however, to investment property. If you sell one property then purchase another, the taxes will be due for the year the sale occurred. On the other hand, if you arrange to trade one property for another, you may be able to defer the capital gains tax.

It is not as complicated as it sounds! Many real estate agents and attorneys specialize in helping their clients put these kind of transactions together. You don’t have to trade buildings with the people buying your property. The property you trade may belong to a third party, and your buyers need only cooperate with the closing attorney to make the transaction work.

Individuals who invest in real estate are doing very well these days. The potential for income, appreciation and possible tax savings makes investment property especially attractive.

It is important for you to get professional advice before you decide to buy investment property. You may want to start with a personal financial advisor who can help you set your investment goals. Your real estate agent can help you select a competitively-priced property that meets these goals, and can answer questions about why a particular property would be a solid investment. What features would make it easy to rent? What kind of maintenance expenses are you likely to incur? What will your cash flow be, and how will the tax savings affect your bottom line? While agents cannot predict how much a particular property will appreciate, they can give you the history of price trends in the market area.

Some neighborhoods have the reputation of being terrific places to live, and the difference is often the investment that people make in their community. These neighborhoods embody a community spirit that reflects the pride of the people who live there. In addition to the financial investment the residents have in their property, they also invest their time by participating in local affairs.

How can you become active in your community? You can participate in your neighborhood association by volunteering to serve on committees. You can keep abreast of issues that could impact your area by testifying at hearings or writing letters to local government officials. There may be ways that you can help your neighbors if they are having a hard time with a serious illness or job loss. If your children are grown, you can make a tremendous difference by doing volunteer work in after-school tutoring programs. When some people begin to get involved in making a difference in their neighborhood, others soon follow.

You see them on cable TV, sitting around a swimming pool, sharing stories about how they got rich quick by buying valuable real estate for give-away prices. They took a course on how to invest in real estate and became millionaires overnight–with nothing down and no credit hassles from mortgage lenders. The course worked for them, and they say it will work for you, too.

If all this sounds too good to be true–it is! These “get-rich-quick” courses and schemes are being investigated by consumer fraud agencies around the country. This does not mean that you can’t become a millionaire by investing in real estate. But investing in real estate requires one important thing from you–an investment of cash. You can’t build an empire overnight, but you can do very well over the long term by selecting property in a good location that is priced well, and which can provide a reasonable cash flow.