Acquiring your first Filer single-family rental property can be an exciting experience. Like any other investment, there are potential risks that should be taken into consideration. Before making your first investment property purchase in Filer, it is important to acquire a significant amount of knowledge to guarantee the desired level of profitability. For example, you’ll need the answers to questions like: who do you want to rent to? What type of rental property will you focus on? How will you finance your purchase? In what follows, we will explore these questions and other key things you’ll need to know to make buying your first rental property a rewarding experience.
Define Your End Goal
It is important to set clearly defined end goals when purchasing your first single-family rental home. It is advisable to take some time to determine the characteristics you desire in your investment property prior to commencing your property search. For example, you could be searching for properties within a particular locality with a specific number of bedrooms or minimum square footage. You can also focus on a particular renter demographic, such as college students or retirees. By having specific details, you can refine your search criteria and locate potential properties faster.
Prepare Your Finances
Along with identifying what features you are looking for in a property, it is imperative to prepare financially before you purchase an investment property. Before embarking on a property search, paying off personal debt and saving for a down payment is advisable. Lowering your personal debt can increase your chances of obtaining more advantageous loan rates, whereas most mortgage loans for an investment property will mandate a 20% down payment. Making pre-arrangements for financing is an important step, but beware of high-interest loans or mortgage products that appear suspiciously impressive. By prequalifying with a reputable mortgage lender, you will be ready to capitalize on the investment opportunities as they arrive. Giving importance to financial preparedness can enhance your confidence in purchasing a rental property when the opportunity arises.
Crunch the Numbers
Now that these crucial initial measures have been taken, the search for the right property begins. It is imperative to remember during your search that you should run a series of numbers on each prospective property, including your margins, operating expenses, and expected return. Several new investors often commit significant errors in this aspect.
New investors sometimes overlook the various expenses associated with purchasing and preparing the rental property for lease, as well as ongoing expenses connected to property management, repairs, and periods of unoccupied status. Experts in the industry recommend a margin goal of 10%, and a 6% return in your first year means that you have a profitable investment.
Stay Objective
It is imperative to keep in mind that an investment property is just that, an investment. Getting devoted to a certain property or allowing emotions to guide your decisions is not advisable. Furthermore, the property you acquire is not necessarily a property that you would ever reside in yourself. For your first investment, industry specialists recommend selecting low-cost properties in high-demand areas. But avoid fixer-uppers unless you are a highly skilled home remodeling professional or know a quality contractor who will do the work for less than the going rate. Your first single-family rental property should be regarded as the first step toward a long and profitable investment career instead of the end goal in itself. By doing so, you can keep yourself on schedule and your investment properties in the black.
Design a Management Strategy
In conclusion, keep in mind that buying a rental property is only an initial phase. To ensure that your investment pays off, you need a proactive management strategy in place. This is where hiring a great property management company can help. As local market experts, property managers can help you discover off-market investment properties, analyze market circumstances, set rental rates, and much more. Actually, as more seasoned investors will tell you, the correct property management company is an invaluable partner in profitable rental property investing.
If you have found your perfect investment property, guarantee that you find the perfect Filer property management team. Contact RPM Magic Valley at 208-734-4001 today!
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