Although, historically, owning investment property, is recognized as, a top quality, relatively – safe, vehicle, you will need some knowledge, understanding, planning, and punctiliously, seeking the right/ appropriate property, to accomplish this! After, greater than 15 years, to be a Real Estate Licensed Salesperson, from the State of New York, and, someone, that has, on several occasions, bought residential rental properties, I strongly, believe, it’s important, and meaningful, for potential investors, to pay for keen attention, to the telltale 6 essentials, regarding the realities, etc, of doing this, With that in mind, this article attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, these.
- Down – payment, usually higher: When one purchases a multi – family house, unless he lives there, lenders ponder over it differently, in the perspective of how much, down – payment, is necessary, if employing a mortgage, being a part of buying. While, rules, and scenarios, often,differ, the standard conventional mortgage, for just a single – family house, is 20%, but, to get a non – owner – occupied one, it truly is 25%.
- Additional requirement/ predicted income/ revenue/ earnings: Lenders, usually, when offering mortgages, to get a single – family, house, base their decisions, on, the appraised value, as well as a set of numbers, ratios, etc, thought to be represent a borrower’s capacity to afford to repay, etc. However, with multi – family scenarios, an important requirement, will be based upon the predicted revenues, from rents, anticipated income, and earnings. This is done, to lessen the lender’s risks!
- All the costs: Know all the costs of owning and operating the unique property, from your onset. These considerations should look into: owner’s responsibilities for real estate investment taxes, utilities, maintenance, repairs, revenues, cleaning between tenants, maintaining common areas and/ or, grounds, etc. All of these expenses, ought to be factored into one’s decision to acquire a specific property!
- 6% rule: A smart, rule – of – thumb, I call, the 6% rule. This means the revenues (stated, conservatively), minus all costs of ownership (paid monthly or averaged, because of this), will be the Cash Flow. This means, unless/ until, the real, Cash Flow, is in least, 6% positive!
- The 75% occupancy guidance: When, calculating, anticipated revenues, remember to consider, vacancies can happen, and become prepared. Thus, after determining the revenues, using market – rates – rents, limit the number, to 75%, to be the cause of this, contingency!
- Ease/ demand of renting: Consider the unique, real estate investment/ rental – housing sector, in case, it really is difficult, or challenging, to rent, when you can find vacancies. Research, how much time, normally, similar units, decide on rent, within this geographic area!
Position yourself, to create the wisest real estate property decisions, by considering, no less than, these 6 relevant factors, ahead of investing in a unique property! Will you proceed, together with the discipline, as a wiser buyer/ investor?