Real estate investors looking to make that first real estate investment have undoubtedly become aware that finding a good income property can be daunting. Good real estate investment deals are either hard to find or they are already taken. This article will explain how to locate good investment opportunities that are hidden from plain view.
Develop a good working relationship with a real estate professional
A qualified real estate salesperson can be an excellent resource for you. You can build trust by exclusively working with one agent.
Look for builder-developers
Look for people who are in the business of selling their own real estate. Often you can find someone with a treasure trove of inventory that is motivated to sell some of it off.
Look for code violations
Local building codes sometimes change during the course of ownership and put a seller into a difficult spot, for example when the state passes a law to require buildings of a certain category to have fire sprinklers installed, or earthquake reinforcement. The required investment to do that work may be more than the owner has to spend, and in turn might motivate the owner to sell at a reduced price instead.
Look for foreclosure-REO
When lenders foreclose on a delinquent loan and buy the property themselves at a foreclosure sale, they end up with real estate owned property (REO property) which they generally prefer to sell rather than operate. REO properties can sometimes be a prime source for good deals.
Look for sale by owner
It’s common for owners to market their own properties to avoid paying a real estate commission. When properly handled, sale by owner (FSBOs) can be a good source for good deals.
Look for management problems
Properties in need of maintenance can be an indicator that the owner no longer has a heart (or the cash) to continue managing the property and might want to sell. A call to the owner expressing your interest in the property might be all it takes to negotiate a good deal for yourself.
Run your own numbers
Regardless what resource you pursue, always run the numbers yourself, and do not naively accept numbers for a rental income property given to you. Making a small investment into affordable real estate investment software will help protect your investment.
James R Kobzeff is a real estate professional and the developer of ProAPOD Real Estate Investment Software. Discover how you can create cash flow, rate of return, and profitability analysis presentations for rental properties in minutes. Go to => http://www.proapod.com
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