Friday, 30 October 2009

Buying Rental Properties: What Are Your Options?

By Mark Knowles

Buying investment houses can be a great way to earn money but you will need to find viable properties to choose from before you can invest in them. There are three main kinds of investment properties to choose from and you may need to use different search methods to locate them.

One thing you need to think about is how you intend to make your income with your investment property. Will you be flipping your property? Flipping involves taking a low priced home, renovating it and reselling it at a higher price. If this is how you intend to make your money, you should ensure that there is a good real estate market where you are purchasing. If you want to purchase a rental properties, you need to pick an area where people are interested in renting homes so that you stand a chance of seeing a return on your investment.

You can find flips by using the MLS, an online multiple listings service that realtors use. It lists the properties and their specifications and will also sometimes show you images of the properties as well. It is a good rule of thumb to look for the worst house in the best neighborhood you can afford, and begin working from there. Consider looking at bank foreclosure lists and real estate listings in newspapers. Properties that are for sale by owners can also be a great source of properties to flip. Just remember to budget for the cost of the home and the renovations, as well as real estate commissions on the resale.

Rental properties are also a good investment houses. This is because as soon as you have tenants, you can begin collecting income. This can help cover the cost of the mortgage. You need to decide whether you want commercial or residential tenants. Both of these types of investment properties can be found on the MLS. Another way to find potential rental properties is through befriending a real estate agent and having them do the searching for you. They may find properties that are available before they are put on the MLS and you may be able to scoop a dream properties for a great price.

Vacant land can be a good investment, but only if it is in an area that people want to develop. You should do your research before you decide to purchase a piece of vacant land. Decide whether you want to build a residence on the houses and resell or rent it. Your other option is to purchase land for commercial development. In that case, you will want to make sure that it is located near where other industrial developments are taking place as this will be more appealing to many company owners. Also check the laws and regulations in the area you are looking at buying. You would hate to find that there has been a by-law passed that prevents you from developing or selling your land back, leaving you with nothing to show for your investment.

You should find good legal advice before purchasing any investment real estate. This is a definite must if you are considering renting or letting out the properties you have invested in. They can tell you what your responsibilities are as a landlord and what you must provide to your tenants. They can also give you advice about setting up a company to own the rental property if you are interested in purchasing more than one investment properties.

You may also want to hire a book keeper or accountant who can give you financial advice. There can be regulations surrounding the income gained from investment properties. A good accountant can also advise you on whether or not a particular investment is going to offer a good return

Buying investment real estate can be an excellent way to make money but it needs to be done carefully so that you do get a return on your investment. Using some common sense and doing your research can help make that goal a reality.

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