Sponsored Links

Featured Links

Other Topics
Sponsored Links





Quote of the Day

"Photography is a major force in explaining man to man."

Edward Steichen








 




 
Featured Real Estate Articles

Denver real estate is looking good.
Denver was the top searched city in the nation for October:According to data from Yahoo.com, "Denver Real Estate" was the second most commonly searched real estate term in the month of October, 2005 (second only to "Florida real estate"). When you factor ...

Interview with Ron Mead: The Secret Goldmine Of Probate Real Estate
Noelani Rodriguez:You've written a nice book about probate real estate.. It is easy to read. It's obviously worth thousands or even millions of dollars in real estate profit potential, and it's only $29.95. That's fantastic Ron. How'd you come to do ...

What I Look For In a Neighborhood When Buying Investment Real Estate
I often get the question, "What do I look for in a neighborhood?" My answer is always the same. "Easy. Value!" I usually get a strange look, but it's true. In a neighborhood, I am looking for clues to assess the value of the property, plain and ...




10 Important Tips to Successful Real Estate Investing
 
10 Important Tips to Successful Real Estate Investing

By Neda Dabestani-Ryba
Prudential Carruthers REALTORS

When it comes to investing, everybody has certain goals and aspirations. However, we have found that there are certain guidelines every aspiring real estate investor needs to know:
1. Compare Property Values and Rents
Financial statistics only go so far; the best measure of a property's market value is often the sale prices of nearby properties. The same holds true for area rents. A low price can often be justified by a reasonable rent; renters who can afford a high rent can afford to buy instead, so reasonably priced rent is a need.

2. Be careful - Tax laws may change
Don't base your tax investment on current tax laws. The tax code is constantly changing, and a good investment is a good investment regardless of the tax code. The right property with the right financing is what you should look for as an investor.

3. Specialize in something you Know
Start in a market segment you know. Whether you focus on fixer-uppers, foreclosures, starter homes, low-down payment properties, condominiums, or small apartment buildings, you'll benefit from experience by specializing in one aspect of investment real estate properties.

4. Know the Costs going in!
Know the financial statements inside out. What are operating expenses? What are loan payments? Vacancy costs? Taxes? What does the cash flow statement look like? These are key issues that must be addressed before making a solid investment.

5. Know where your tenants are coming from
If the last rent increase was recent, your tenants may be considering a move. If tenants have a short-term lease, they may be living there simply to attract unsuspecting buyers. It is also important to collect the tenants' security deposits at closing.

6. Assess the tax situation
Taxes are an integral part of successful real estate investing, and they often make the difference between a positive cash flow and a negative one. Know the tax situation, and see how it can be manipulated to your advantage. It may be a good idea to consult a tax advisor.

7. Investigate insurance coverage
If seller's coverage is based on lower-than-current replacement value, your insurance cost may increase when you pay a higher purchase price.

8. Confirm Utility Costs
Ask the local utilities to verify recent utility expenses, especially
if any of these costs are included in your tenant's rent.

9. Consult Your Accountant
Taxation is a key element of successful real estate investing, so be sure to find an accountant who is well-versed with the constantly evolving tax code.

10. Inspect!
Make sure that you always perform a thorough inspection of the property before buying it. Never, ever buy any property without at least examining the site. In some cases, hiring professional inspectors to examine the structural mechanical system may be a sound investment.



About the Author
Neda Dabestani-Ryba is a licensed Realtor in Maryland. She is a member of the President's Circle of Top Real Estate Professionals. She can be reached at (800) 536-3806 or visit her website for more information: http://neda.dabestani.pcragent.com/
Prudential Carruthers REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.




Real Estate News

Troubled retailer+Ackman= $5 bln REIT IPO? - Reuters Blogs
Hedge fund manager William Ackman has come up with a plan to save troubled discount retailer Target: form a trust with the land the Minneapolis-based store chain owns, spin off 20 percent of that into a $5 billion IPO, then use that money to lower ...

Solera Holdings, Inc. Acquires Inpart Servicos Ltda.; Further Enhances ... - MSN MoneyCentral
SAN DIEGO , Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Solera Holdings, Inc. SLH , the leading global provider of software and services to the automobile insurance claims processing industry, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Inpart ...

MGM MIRAGE Hospitality and Asian Coast Development Ltd. Announce Plans ... - Earthtimes
Collaborative project to be owned and financed by Asian Coast Development and Managed by MGM MIRAGE LAS VEGAS, Nov. 18 LAS VEGAS , Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) and Asian Coast Development Ltd. (ACDL) today announced plans ...

Iowa: Panel advises on disaster recovery - Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission chairman Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis speaks during a news conference after presenting the findings of the RIAC 120-Day Report to Iowa Governor Chet Culver (left) on Monday at the Statehouse in Des Moines. DES MOINES (AP ...

Home Prices Tumbled in 3rd Quarter, Realtors Say - Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON -- Home prices fell in a record four out of five U.S. cities in the third quarter as low-cost foreclosures flooded the market and the U.S. housing market's decline spread throughout the country. Among 152 metropolitan areas included in the ...