How to Choose the Right Property for Your Needs

Everyone talks about how profitable it is to invest in real estate. And yes, if you make the right choices at the right times, it most certainly is! But it’s not guaranteed. You need to do your homework, a lot of research, and be prepared to either work very hard at maintaining your property, or hire a good residential property management company. This is not a case of buying a property then just sitting back and letting the money roll in. Investing in real estate is a serious commitment.

Whether you’re a first time real estate purchaser or a seasoned veteran, here are some tips that can benefit both of you:

Buy Within Your Budget: This decides which areas and in some cases, what types of real estate you can invest in. To nail down your budget, make an appointment with a lender or mortgage broker and get pre-approved. Then it’s smooth sailing.

Your Price Range: This will depend on whether you choose to manage the property yourself or hire a real estate property management company. You’ll need to add in additional costs if you choose a management company (but you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches & money in the long run!).

Type of Property: Houses, duplexes, low rise or high rise buildings, condos, townhouses, open land…it all depends on what you can afford, what you would feel comfortable with, and whether you plan to handle the property yourself or hire a real estate property management company.

Where to Buy: If you plan to manage your own property, try to find something close to home. If a furnace breaks down in the middle of the night, it’s easier if it’s only a 10-15 minute drive. If you plan to hire a residential property management company, distance doesn’t matter as they’ll handle everything for you.

Investment Area Options: Make up a short list of areas that fit into your price range, and suit your management choice. Call up and talk to agents in those areas to find out what is available to buy that fits into your budget.

Do Your Research: Once you’ve decided on the area you’d like to buy in, check out the prices of homes that have been recently sold in and around that area. This gives you more information on a property’s value and what people are willing to pay.

Do In-Depth Research: Especially if you’re considering buying real estate in an area you’re unfamiliar with. You can get a lot of information on more than price from lenders and mortgage insurers. They usually have a lot of valuable data on different locations and property developments. You can also check with the local police regarding crime statistics. 

Match Property to People: The property you invest in should meet the needs and demographics of the renters in that area. Near colleges and universities, property with lots of bedrooms would be in demand. A house with a big yard close to schools and parks is best suited to families. 

Property Age & Condition: If you need to replace a roof or furnace within the first few months of ownership, that takes a major bite out of your profits and can derail your cash flow. Before you purchase anything have a professional building inspector thoroughly check the place over so you know what you’re getting into.

Big Local Changes: Are there any big plans in store for the area you wish to purchase in? Check with your local council for this kind of information. If major long term construction is planned it may be hard to find or keep tenants. However, if you’re looking at light rail transit or a by-pass coming in, you may see the value of your property increase sooner than expected!

If this is your first foray into investing in real estate, a good start might be a house or a condo. Condos are basically low maintenance outside as the condo association handles all that. You just maintain the interior. In the case of a single family house, it usually attracts long-term renters like couples and families. With two adults there are usually two pay cheques coming in so they’re more likely to be financially stable and pay their rent regularly.

Either way, the tips we’ve offered should be of some help to enable you to buy the property that’s best suited to you. When you’re able to, hire a reputable real estate property management company to handle it all for you…and then you can sit back and watch your investments grow!

Hiring a Property Management Company ­ What Should You Look For?

Are you thinking about hiring a property manager? There are a few things you need to know before making that decision. The manager you choose may improve the value of your property and keep tenants happy, or he may cost you money over time. It is important you make the right choice in the beginning to ensure you get good value for your money with the real estate property management company you select.

Screening and Handling Tenants

The residential property management company you choose must have a good record of screening and handling tenants. Some managers fail to perform a thorough background check, resulting in a poor tenant that does not take care of the property or continuously violates the terms of their contract. The manager you select must have a keen eye for choosing the kind of tenants you want renting your residential property. To determine if your chosen company has the eye for good tenants, make a personal visit to some of the properties they manage. The trip will enable you to gain insight about the track record of the companies on your shortlist.

Another characteristic to look for when choosing a property management company is their record in handling and treating tenants. Are they tenant centered when making decisions about fees, repairs and maintenance of the property they lease? This is an important trait because it will attract first rate tenants that are willing to pay a higher rate and take care of the property they are renting.

A real estate property management company must respond to tenant needs quickly. The manager must address problems such as repairs, leaky roofing and plumbing, holes in the walls and faulty wiring as soon as possible to keep tenants happy.

Management Fees

Property management fees are important, but you must not base your decision solely on who charges the lowest fees. Compare it with what the other firms are charging, the scope of services offered and their quality. A lower price may indicate that they acknowledge their services aren’t very good or it could be an attempt to gain your business by undercutting competitors. The last thing to consider when hiring a property manager is price. You must determine if the company you have chosen will provide the services you require for a rate that is fair based on your needs. What good will low fees bring if the manager performs poorly?

Management Background

Does the company you want to hire have capable managers? Do they care about tenants? Do they know how to market property and retain tenants?

The vacancy rate of the properties a company manages is a very telling sign of their capability to keep tenants.

Are they visible when it comes to marketing properties they manage? Check for any listings, ads and other promotional materials they use. This is a clear indicator of their expertise and management capability.

These are some of the things you must consider when hiring a residential property management company. They will either lead to no vacancies and high profitability or difficulty in keeping tenants and profit losses.

Reasons that Stop First­time Buyers from Purchasing Property for Investment

Many people show interest in buying property as a form of investment, regardless of whether they will live in it or lease it. Residential property management companies agree that purchasing a property is an investment because it’s typically the largest purchase an individual makes. It is costly, not only to buy, but also to maintain.

Certain reasons will make one hesitant when buying property as an investment.

Drop in Value

Property can decline in value, even without a disaster striking it or the area around it. Neighborhoods may gradually decline when newly built homes attract prospective buyers. For commercial property, jobs may transfer to other cities where there is more talent and a larger market. The construction of landfills, prisons, highways, etc may also affect the value of property.

Even the savviest buyers cannot predict the future of the market. However, taking precautions when making an investment can reduce the likelihood of profit loss. For instance, purchasing property in a low-crime neighborhood, choosing only well-kept properties or buying a property that is in a centrally located area. With help from a real estate property management company, you can make informed decision that will get you the best value for your money.

High Maintenance Costs

All types of property, whether they are commercial or residential, require maintenance. Maintenance fees may scare away potential buyers because of the high cost of upkeep. To minimize costs, buy property that is new or in good condition. This substantially reduces your overall costs in the long-run. It’s also important to choose property that has major components like roofing, heating, cooling, plumbing, etc that have been upgraded or replaced recently.

Buyer’s Remorse

Most potential buyers are afraid of making the wrong decision, hence the remorse they often feel. This may be because of uncertainties about what they want, what type of business they want to pursue or they may be unsure about how much money they will make. To alleviate some of this regret, buyers should make a list of must-have features and nice-to-have features.

Look at the price range of properties available to determine, if you have the resources to afford any of them. Avoid exceeding your budget, as you will later realize that it only strained your wallet and decreased flexibility for future investments.

These are some of the reasons first-time buyers shy away from investing in property. These fears are worth noting because they are real things that could happen to any prospective buyer. Residential property management companies agree that one must always be cautious when it comes to investing in real estate, whether residential or commercial.