3 Critical Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying An Investment Property

As investors, we may not all have enough information in our hands and can end up purchasing an asset that may not end up giving us profits. That’s why it is important to learn about how to determine whether an asset will bring positive ROI.

In terms of property investments, some may not have conducted a study or performed a forecast to calculate the earnings they will get. Despite these challenges presented to new investors, there are still ways to succeed and gain a profit from your investment.

When you are considering buying a property to transform into a rental unit or to sell after a while, there are three questions you need to ask yourself. These questions will guide you when picking your real estate investment.

1: How do you plan to profit from your investment?
2: What are the specific risks you are dealing with?
3: How can you limit the risk and manage your risk exposure?

Now, let’s answer these vital questions.

How Do You Plan To Profit From Your Investment?

If you are a new real estate investor, you may grapple with this question. Some may rush into buying a property without figuring out the profitability side of the investment. It is critical to understand the process so you can develop a strategy.

A person writing in a notebook

Should you decide to convert your property into a rental, you should seek a unit with an attractive location and create ads that will draw more interest from potential residents. Next, you need to create a good tenant screening procedure, invest in rent collection software, and gather a network of reliable contractors to help you maintain the rental space.

It is also important to follow specific steps and review crucial details, such as:

  • Setting an accurate rental price that maximizes your profit
  • Calculating numbers for cash flow forecasting
  • Studying and learning property appreciation in-depth to know its impact on your investment profits
  • Spotting the signs of a good deal

Given the high initial capital outlay required from property investments, you need to be logical before purchasing a property. Research facts and aim to generate profits by walking yourself through every possible scenario. Set aside time for valuable research and never forget to run the numbers.

What Are The Specific Risks You Are Dealing With?

Even if the property investment can reap high profits, you also need to be honest about the risks you will face before investing in a property. If you ignore the risks, then you might not be prepared for the potential losses that might come up. For example, if you purchase a property in a rush without having a professional conduct a thorough inspection, you might end up spending more getting it in good shape.

If the costs of repairing and renovating the property are too steep and profits won’t cover them, you should avoid making the investment. Approach real estate transactions from every angle to ensure you know the risks involved.

A wall in the process of being painted.

Risk Factors For Rental Spaces

  • Unplanned repairs
  • Bad renters
  • Long periods of vacancy
  • Decreased appreciation resulting from low market demand

Risk Factors For Buying and Selling Properties

  • Exceeding your renovation budget
  • Delays in renovation projects
  • Market slowdown or market crash

Be sure to be aware of the risks that come with a property investment so you will be aware of potential losses. Always acquire more information to solve potential issues and reduce losses as much as you can.

How Can You Limit The Risk And Manage Your Risk Exposure?

No investment comes with zero risk, but you can develop a system that lowers your risk exposure. For instance, bad tenants can result in lower profits from unpaid rent or stressful evictions, so you can create a solid tenant screening procedure to avoid this situation. You can also widen your market reach to attract more top-tier tenants.

Real estate investors need to come up with good strategies to reduce the risks of investing in properties. Take time to work out how to reduce your risks to ultimately profit from your investment.

Bottom Line

There is no perfect way to come up with a great strategy for property investment. Be aware of the benefits and drawbacks of potential real estate investments you are planning to take on.

Focus on the profitability side of the investment and continue to be realistic about the risks that come from it to lower those risks as much as possible. After identifying most of the risks and managing each one of the risks, loss can still occur given that the investment landscape is filled with risks.

If you are looking for a real estate expert before taking on huge property investments or a reliable property manager, contact Evolve Real Estate and Property Management today!