Property Investment For Beginners

Traditionally, one of the best high return investment options has been investment of money in real estate. While the property prices may go up and down in the short term, over the long term, they have always appreciated substantially. The ownership of a piece of land is an investment you can eventually bank upon, as it acquires value through development of the areas in its vicinity. With the falling of property prices, many people will advise you to stay away from investing in real estate. However, if you look at it from a different perspective, you will see opportunity in this situation.

Properties which were once beyond your budget reach are suddenly within your range. For those of you who have been smart enough to save money throughout the past bearish decade, now is the time to invest and take advantage of the opportunity, which has presented itself. In this Buzzle article, I shall share some tips on real estate investment for those of you, who are smart enough to recognize the opportunity this recessionary background has presented.

Tips on Property Investment for Beginners

Any investment comes with its share of risks, which cannot be entirely eliminated but lessened through research and planning. Same goes with real estate investment. You have to do your homework and get your research right to end up on the winning side. Here are some tips for beginners.

Know about the Range of Real Estate Investment Options
Firstly, you need to begin with a study of the varied range of investment options in real estate, which you may consider. You may invest in buying residential houses, commercial properties, condos, apartments or purely specialize in land investment. There are a lot of options out there and you need to consider the entire range, to decide which would ideally suit your investment budget and align with your future plans.

Invest to Sell or Invest to Rent out Properties
There is the important decision of deciding whether you buy to rent or buy to sell again for a profit. The former option is open, if you buy residential properties. You can create a regular income source for yourself by investing in rental property.

Otherwise, you also have the option of entering the house flipping business, which is buying old houses, renovating them and selling them back again for profit. You may buy a piece of commercial property, hold it till the prices rise and sell it to make a substantial profit.

It's All About Location
Remember when it comes to property investment, it's all about location. The price of any real estate property is largely a function of location. The localities decide the price range and therefore you need to research the price trends according to location, before you make a purchase.

Research & Do the Math
Once you have decided on what kind of property you plan to buy, what purpose you intend to buy it for and are clear about the amount of money you are willing to spend, start researching real estate listings to find properties that fit the bill. Calculate the returns you plan to gain from the investment and the amount of mortgage loans you can afford to apply for.

Networking With Real Estate Agents
A real estate agent can make your job easier in finding properties that are exactly what you are looking for. Creating a good network of real estate agents who can point you towards good investment properties is essential. Real estate brokers can handle the legal affairs associated with purchase and sale of property for you. They can make an offer to owners on your behalf and negotiate on your behalf.

Making Financial Arrangements for the Investment
Once you have decided on the property and made an offer, you need to arrange for the money you plan to invest. A pooling up of your own savings and a mortgage loan if needed, can cover the total investment amount. Talk to financial institutions and mortgage brokers for financing options.

The key to making good investment decisions in real estate, lies in research. For a property, the location is the most important aspect of consideration and all other points come later. Good location, with access to resources in its vicinity, creates an opportunity for eventual growth of property value. With a pooling in of your own savings and a mortgage loan, you can buy strategically located properties and rent them to generate revenue, or sell them as the prices appreciate substantially. You can't eliminate risk, but minimize it by putting your money into properties with high potential of price appreciation. Get a good real estate agent to advise you and a mortgage broker to assist you in the arrangement of finance.
By Omkar Phatak
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