Posts Tagged ‘investment property mortgages’

Finding The Best Investment Properties?

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Finding the best investment properties is important if you want to get the greatest return on your investment. What makes the best investment properties depends on your criteria. What are you looking for in an investment property? People with more cash and experience might want to look into commercial property, while residential homes are better bets for beginners. You can hold onto an investment property for years and make money by renting it out or you can flip it in a couple of months for a one-time profit.

The best investment properties are the ones that best match your situation and goals. When searching for your next investment property, you want to concentrate on finding properties that will be sound investments for your purposes and which will bring in money monthly if you are renting them out , or if buying a business, appreciate while you hold them, and require no more time and money that you have to give.

If you are interested in purchasing an existing business property, find one that is successful. Don’t get distracted by failing businesses with the promise of potential. Look over the books, check existing obligations such as lease agreements or restrictive covenants and ask the owner why they are selling, and ask yourself if you have the ability to run the business. If the success of the business depends on expertise you don’t have, walk away unless you know you can get the right people working for you.

Multi-dwelling structures, such as garden apartments or a high-rise can be some of the best investment properties. These tend to be more expensive than single family homes to buy, The monthly income can be potentially greater, but so can the operational costs.

Small apartment buildings grouped together won’t be cost as much as a high-rise, but will have high maintenance needs. A single family home is often a good start, but will need a high rent to make it profitable.

Consider house flipping for some of the best investment properties. Purchase a home, fix it up, and resell it a few months later for a large profit. This is one of the fastest ways to get started with real estate investing, but it does require a lot of work and money.

If you lack the money to invest in real estate, you can choose to live in a home for a few years while fixing it up. Doing this can start your investing career.

Bying Apartment Buildings

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Buying apartment buildings is something that experienced investors often do to increase their investing portfolio and guarantee a monthly income over a long period.  Apartment buildings may be too expensive for the beginner, but their profit potential make them a wise choice for those who can afford them.

There are mainly two different types of apartment buildings: the garden apartment complex or the multi-level building.  The garden apartment complex can be found in any city or town and is characterized by small apartments grouped together.  These could be duplexes, townhouses, or another structure that is only a few stories high.  A high rise contains a number of  apartments in one building and may have an elevator.

Garden apartment complexes are widely available and can be found for an affordable price.  Since they cover a wider area of land and are typically multiple buildings, the maintenance costs for these can be high.  Also, more landscaping is usually required.  Many garden apartment communities have other amenities such as laundry appliances in each apartment and community play areas.

High rise apartment buildings generally aren’t  found in smaller towns, so you’ll need to be in (or go to) a city to buy one.  They tend to be higher in price than garden apartments, but this is offset by the fact that maintenance costs are usually lower. However, depending on the area that you live in, you might not have as many to choose from.

If you are interested in buying apartment buildings, start by looking at what is on the market for sale.  You may search online, use the classifieds, or deal with a realtor or broker specializing in apartments.  You might find an apartment building that meets your requirements with just this method of search.

It can be more difficult to buying apartment buildings that arentt yet for sale, but it will increase your options and lower your competition.  Ask owners if they are interested in selling.  Have a confidentiality agreement prepared before going to the owners and if they will consider selling, study the books closely.

When buying apartment buildings, you need to have all the facts.  Find out the type of renters for the units, the price of rent, the occupancy rate, and the income and operating expenses for the past few years.  You’ll want to draw up a confidentiality agreement to give to the owner before you contact him. Buying apartment buildings takes diligence, but it can be a wise investment that will pay you for years.

Best Investment Properties

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Whether you are just starting out in investing or are looking to add more properties to your portfolio, you want to find the best investment properties.  Before you start searching, you want to make a list of your criteria–are you looking for a residential or commercial property?  Do you want a house to use as a rental, or are you hoping to make your money by selling it?  Are you planning on living in the home while renovating it, or do want to flip it for a quick profit?

Even though there are many investment opportunities in real estate, you should always strive to have an investment that will pay for itself, one that has the potential to increase in value, and one that is a good fit for your lifestyle and resources. No one house or commercial property can the best investment property for everyone.  Take stock of your needs before you begin.

If you are interested in purchasing an existing business property, find one that is successful.  Don’t get distracted by failing businesses with the promise of potential.  Look over the books, check existing obligations such as lease agreements or restrictive covenants and ask the owner why they are selling, and ask yourself if you have the ability to run the business.  If the success of the business depends on expertise you don’t have, walk away unless you know you can get the right people working for you.

Multi-dwelling structures, such as garden apartments or a high-rise can be some of the best investment properties.  These tend to be more expensive than single family homes to buy,  The monthly income can be potentially greater, but so can the operational costs.

Small apartment buildings grouped together won’t be cost as much as a high-rise, but will have high maintenance needs.  A single family home is often a good start, but will need a high rent to make it profitable.

Some of the best investment properties, especially for beginners, are undervalued single family homes that you fix up and resell for a profit.  This is commonly known as house flipping.  For those with little money to invest, living in a home while fixing it up is a good option.

If you don’t have the time and money for a quick flip, consider living in a home while fixing it up for a few years.  This isn’t as fast as house flipping, but it is a nearly risk free way of investing in real estate.