Real Estate Appraisal – Rental Properties



Real estate appraisal for rental properties isn’t the same as for single family homes. If you were looking at a 24-unit building, it would be difficult to find similar ones nearby that have recently sold. Therefore, a market analysis using comparable sales isn’t normally used.

It is also not ideal to use replacement costs either. How do you figure replacement cost if there is no land for sale nearby with proper zoning? This is used as a secondary method, though, and can tell you if maybe you should be building instead of buying.

Real Estate Appraisal Using Capitalization

Investors buy rental properties for the income. Therefore it is the income that is used to determine value. The rate of return expected by investors in a given area gives you the capitalization rate, and this is what you use to accurately appraise an income property.

Start with the gross income. Subtract all expenses, but not including loan payments. If a building’s gross income is $82,000 per year, and the expenses $30,000, you have a net before debt-service of $52,000. Now apply the capitalization rate to this figure.

If the common capitalization rate is .10, for example (ask a real estate agent), divide the income of $52,000 by .10, and you get $520,000. This is the value of the building. If the usual rate is .08, meaning investors in the area expect an 8% return, the value would be $650,000.

Easy Real Estate Appraisal?

Net income before debt-service, divided by the “cap rate:” It really is a simple formula. The tough part getting accurate income figures. Is the seller showing you ALL the normal expenses, and not exagerating income? If he stopped repairs for a year, and is showing “projected” rents, the income figure could be $15,000 too high. This would mean the building is worth $187,000 less (.08 cap rate) than your appraisal shows.

Another thing smart investors do when buying, is to separate out income from vending machines and laundry machines. If these provide $6,000 of the income, that would add $75,000 to the appraised value (.08 cap rate). Do the appraisal without this income included, then add back the replacement cost of the machines (probably much less than $75,000).

Be careful when using any real estate appraisal method. No formula is perfect, and all are only as good as the figures you plug into them. Used wisely, though, real estate appraisal using capitalization rates is one of the most accurate methods.

Property Investing 101 – Buying Property to Rent Out



It seems that every time there is a major downturn in the economy, housing takes a big hit and more and more people turn to rentals for their housing needs. This recession has been no different, which makes it the perfect environment for an investor to buy properties for rental. Unfortunately, buying properties to rent is not as simple as it sounds, as there are a number of common pitfalls along the way that can result in the loss of your investment capital. What follows are some important tips to help you avoid falling into the buy-to-rent investment trap.

The most important thing you can do is your homework. Just because there are a tremendous number of well-priced investment opportunities, that doesn’t mean you can be successful without researching the process properly. The internet is an ideal source for information that can help you make more informed decisions about your investment strategy. In addition, there are television programs, seminars, and real estate events that can provide valuable information for you. Part of that researching process will include the development of a detailed budget plan. Your investment property may require expenses for renovation and repairs, so every potential cost should be included. Having a proper budget can be the firewall that prevents you from overspending, and can also reveal additional opportunities for savings.

In addition, you should search the market for the best properties to rent. Consider to whom you intend to rent, and make sure that the location is accessible. Most renters prefer properties that are within range of malls and restaurants, and that have access to schools and doctor’s offices. The general rule of thumb it to try to look at the property through the eyes of potential renters before committing to a purchase. Shopping around will also help you find the best opportunities for negotiating a better price. Use every resource available to you, including the internet and real estate guides in your area to find the best locations and then negotiate the purchase price down as far as you are able.

Above all else, understand what you are getting into. There are definite pitfalls to buying property for rental purposes. Unlike home sales, rental usage tends to rise as the economy weakens, and vice versa. While this might be a good time to buy properties for rent, an upturn in the economy may see a downturn in your rental business. You should also be prepared to weather the time it will take before your rentals generate profit. Knowing and being prepared for these realities will help to prevent later surprises and disappointments. Finally, you should do everything you can to find the best tenants, and to maintain good relationships with them throughout their lease. This is the single most important thing you can do to get tenants that work with you to maintain the value of your rental property. To locate some properties that you can buy for rental purposes, visit Homes for Sale at DC Ranch and Homes for Sale in Desert Highlands.

Property For Rent – Getting Passive Income From Renting Out Your Property



Getting into the real estate business can be a very lucrative opportunity for you to make extra money. Other than just flipping your properties for profits, you can also look into renting out your property and collecting monthly rental income from your tenants. However although there are a lot of benefits for becoming a landlord, it also comes with lots of responsibilities.

Real estate is a business. As a landlord, you will meet all kinds of people. When you negotiate every deal, your objective is to make profits from every tenant and in every investment that you put your money into. Before you can rent out your property, you must know how to market your property and sell your rental service to your potential tenants.

The first thing that you need to do in order to become a landlord is to look for a right property to invest. You need to have the right foresight to gauge whether a particular piece of real estate is suitable for rentals. When you are looking into buying a property, make sure that you take your time and do some research. Do not rush into an impulse buying decision. Take your time to compare prices and look for the best opportunity out there.

When you become a landlord, you will have the chance to meet a lot of people. Some of these people are out to get bargains from you. Therefore, you need to know how to negotiate well. During a negotiation, you should always stick to your own set of rules and do not hesitate to walk out of any deal that does not make you much profits. There are enough opportunities out there for you to make money.

As a landlord, you also need to socialise well. Building and maintaining a good relationship with your tenants is one of the most important things that a landlord must do. When you maintain good relationships with your tenants, they will mostly likely not to delay payment.

Once you have rent out your property, there are still lots of different situations for you to solve. For example, late rental payment is a very common situation that you will face. When you are facing this kind of situation, you need to deal with it very carefully because it will affect the cash-flow of your real estate business. If you maintain good relationships with your tenants, you can now leverage on this to talk and persuade them to pay their rentals on time next month.

Once you get a hang of being a landlord, you will enjoy being one. When everything is stable, you can hire a manager to do the hard work for you. Your property manager will handle all the ground works such as rental collection and property maintenance.

Being a landlord is definitely a viable business. Just make sure that you earn from every investment that you make.