There are a few essential considerations to keep in mind when searching for investment rental properties. From the very start, you ought to know precisely what you have at stake to ensure the future success of your investment.
Understanding the potential income of your rental property is something you’ll need to do. If your property has already been used as a rental, for example, you should find out the amount it rented for, and whether or not that amount was suitable for its location. Since some properties might rent for a higher or lower amount than is current for the location, you’ll want to research to see how your rental matches up with comparable properties. That way, you’ll be able to discover if you’re going to be able to get the amount you want, and if it’s a realistic expectation or not.
Another thing you need to consider with care is the mortgage interest. Because the mortgage interest is the biggest cost you’ll probably encounter when buying an investment property, it’s important that you understand the details of your specific loan along with the interest rates. Most homes and duplexes have mortgage loan structures that are very alike. Triplex and bigger properties are generally somewhat higher, while rates and terms are completely different when a commercial property with more units is being considered. Generally speaking, the bigger your down payment on the property, the less interest you have to pay.
Taxes will also need to be taken into account. Most people simply look at the property taxes from the year before the investment property was purchased, and assume that figure will be similar when they estimate their costs. However, since taxes usually change from one year to another, this isn’t always true. Taxes often increase after a purchase, particularly if the owner previously occupied the property, so it’s clearly a good idea to presume that the property taxes will increase after you’ve purchased the rental property.
Although, you may hope that your property is rented all the time, this is not reality; you need to consider the costs of vacant property as well. There are times when your property will be vacant by nearly a ten percent vacancy rate.
Tenant turnover must definitely be kept in mind, since you can’t assume that your tenants will always choose to stay in the property for an extended period of time. Consider the costs of getting the property ready for rental again, which will include cleaning, repainting, advertising for new tenants, and more. There’s also a chance that the security deposit might not be sufficient to pay for all the damages after your tenant has vacated the property.
You also need to consider the cost of insurance, while keeping in mind that investment property insurance is generally higher than your owner occupied property. You should consider liability insurance as well as property insurance. Search for a quote rather than estimating the cost based on your insurance costs.
Most rental property owners will unfortunately underestimate utility costs. If your property has been previously rented, you’ll have to know precisely what your tenants pay for and what you pay for, so that you know for certain which are your responsibilities and which belong to your tenants.
Finally, it’s a good idea to consider how much property manage will cost you if you’re not going to be managing the property yourself.
Joaquin Schneggle has worked closely with investment property owners for more than twenty years as lawyer, counselor, and property owner. He provides practical free rental forms for every state on his Law for Landlords website.