Image Source

By Jerry Mooney

When it comes to our funds, we are always looking for ways to make some extra dollar. After all, the money that is just sitting in your bank account isn’t going to grow on its own. And you don’t want to look back in years to come to wish you had done more to raise your funds. Therefore, it’s worth investing now to ensure you have a fruitful life in the future. And while there are lots of different investment routes you can go down, property is definitely one of the top options. After all, real estate is booming with property prices constantly rising. But investing in property isn’t as easy as you think. Therefore, here are some foolproof tips for investing in property. Also, check out this beginners guide to property investment as an additional, excellent source.

It’s all about location

As when you buy your main property, location is one of the most important factors you need to consider when it comes to investing and you might want to research locations. After all, you want to choose an area where the properties are rising in price rather than falling dramatically. That way, you know that you are going to be in for a good windfall when it comes to selling the house. Thankfully, there is plenty of information online about property prices in certain areas. And you should be able to find out information from your solicitor about the property price history. That way, you can see if it’s risen in price over the years. You can also find out information about a specific area from local authorities. After all, they will have information about the local crime, transport, and schools which can help you to sway your decision. And you need to make sure that the location you choose for your new property is well-sought after. For example, somewhere situated close to local businesses or a top city can often be a good place to invest. In fact, there is plenty of information online about the best cities to invest in property in the US.

Decide on a budget at the start

Before you start looking for a property, you need to be clued up on how much you can spend. After all, it’s likely you have a substantial amount if you are thinking about tying it up in a property. But you need to make sure that you are not going over this when it comes to selecting a property investment. After all, you don’t want to get into debt due to picking a property which is out of your budget. In fact, you might end up not being able to afford your own home! Therefore, you need to make a clear budget at the beginning which includes any renovation costs. After all, work might need to be done on the house to grow your profit and to ensure it’s suitable to rent out. Therefore, these figures need to be taken into account too before you buy a property. In fact, it’s worth getting quotes for builders on the work that needs doing. That way, you know whether you should pull out if it will be too costly. Also, a lot of people get advice from a financial advisor before they go any further investing in a property. After all, they can help you to figure out the maximum you should be spending on the investment, help you make decisions on how spending, let you know if you need that new hunting knife or if you should wait based on your budget. . And will also look at other potential investments that you could go down instead if a property is not a viable option.     

Image Credit

Think about the future

A lot of people think about the here and now when it comes to investing in property. But you need to always think about the future selling process when you buy a house. After all, ultimately you want to sell the investment property for the most money. And you need a plan of how you are going to get to that point. It’s also worth thinking about what you will do with the funds once you sell the property. A lot of people consider buying another property with the  windfall to ensure they rake in more money. But you need to be careful when it comes to taxes, so you don’t lose your load. There are some houses you can get like 1031 exchange properties similar to these that can ensure you reinvest your capital into another property while deferring your capital gains taxes. Therefore, make sure you look at all your options, so you don’t make a mistake with your well-earned funds.

To let or not to let

It’s always a challenge to decide whether the new investment property is going to be something you keep empty and just work on updating it, or whether it’s something you rent out to tenants. After all, if you keep it empty, you can renovate it with a new kitchen or look into adding a new bedroom. And you could end up with a tidy windfall when it does come to the time to sell. In fact, you should look at getting the property valued every few months, so you know when is a good time to sell. However, if you decide to consider renting the property out to tenants instead, you could be getting funds every single month. And this can not only cover the mortgage of the property, but it can leave you with a tidy sum every month. Of course, there is a lot to think about if you do decide to rent out a property. After all, you might not want to get involved with this, so will need to find a realtor who can let it out for you. But you will still be responsible when dealing with any issues that occur in the property. So you have to be prepared to fix problems so that you don’t lose your tenant. And of course, there is always the worry that the house won’t be left in good nick after they go. It means you might lose money when it comes to selling it in the future. Therefore, always think through your options, so you make the right decision on what to do with the property!

And remember to make sure the house is up to scratch before taking the next step. Get a surveyor out who can check the property thoroughly for any hidden problems!