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What do you look at when researching real estate markets to invest in? We all know the basics.
- Look for something below market price.
- Find an area that offers good cash flow from rentals.
- Look for areas that are popular with renters and have affordable rent prices.
this Potential investors are left with a number of areas to choose from.
The truth is, the U.S. teeth The real estate market is incredibly diverse and understanding it takes time and patience. Really Digging into the local market View details Identify areas of real potential.
Of course you can select Outsource your research to a local real estate team that can present you with investment options. Perfect for those who don’t have much time Own Research or If you I’m a complete beginner And I want To minimize risk.
That being said, The drawback to this approach is that the local team is presented with limited options. Own Research requires a lot of time and effort, and there is always the possibility of making costly mistakes. But in my experience, putting in the effort pays off in the long run. just You need to learn to think outside the box.
Below are some less researched and less common things I look for in the real estate market before investing.
1. The property is within my budget.
One of the first things you should do as a real estate investor is It is always said Set a budget, surely Stick with it. The problem is, you after that buy Ten Would you choose a cheap property with the money you have, or would you choose two luxury properties? How you answer this question will determine the outcome. I end up watching it About real estate as an investment target.
Find a field you can work in Almost This may reduce the number of properties you can afford, but the choice is yours. There will be more benefits in the long run.
Yes, cheap is good. Investors want cheap home prices, but renters want Cheap rent. do not wantBut a cheap home in a less desirable area isn’t the type of tenant you want.
Want a Unicorn: Below Market Rate Housing NiceAttractive areas with high rents and people want to live in (for more than a year). If that is your end goal, always think about the quality of tenants you want to attract and the increased property value. this It may not be the cheapest property, but it will likely be the one that performs best in the long run.
So, once you have calculated how much you can pay, it’s time to look for the market. have Better Homes in that price range absolutely There’s no point in going Ten Cheap homes in upscale suburbs. You can get some cash flow out of this option, but in the end You constantly have to deal with all the issues that come with being in a less desirable neighborhood — times ten!
2. Young local population
Surprisingly, many real estate investors still ignore Demographics when looking for potential customers Areas to invest in. That’s why you should invest automatically In a place like Florida Research can be very risky.
lots of People search for home prices on the internet, see that home prices in a particular area are soaring, and infer that it is a good investment prospect.
False. Home price increases alone tell you very little about an area’s investment prospects. Will invest Regions with limited economic growth and ageing populations will find it difficult.
Florida, for example, is a diverse state, with areas known for affluent retirement communities and seasonal economies. Other areas are more Various DemographicallyThe important thing is, It has a diverse economy that encourages youth employment.
The census dataset is useful If you know the information You are looking forSimply put, it is expensive. Rental demand A growing and diversifying economy. I looked into the local demographic details and Really Assess the potential of your local real estate market:
- Year: Too young and you’re likely to be a mobile population that can’t afford high rents. Too old and you’re likely to be primarily homeowners, limiting and stagnating the local economy. Ideally, Where is it? The population of young professionals aged between 25 and 45 is actively growing.
- Local unemployment rate: The lower the better. National unemployment rate This means something is wrong with the local economy and is something to consider.
- Diverse local economy: Next, look at where local people are employed. important It’s a piece of the puzzle because it tells us whether a local economy is diverse. This data isn’t included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census. simply Get one from your local county or city chamber of commerce or similar organization.
for example, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Website Detroit has a diverse local economy, with jobs evenly distributed across the health care, government, manufacturing and retail sectors. This breakdown is good news for investors. When one component of the local economy declines, Regional economy Floating.
3. Extending your stay
High rental demand As such It doesn’t necessarily lead to great real estate investment opportunities. What is your purpose? If you are renting to university students, a university town would be a good choice.
But the problem with college towns is the high turnover of tenants — the average student moves out after a year or two — so those quiet weeks or months in the summer before other tenants move in can be expensive.
I like to zoom in on areas with high rental demand and short occupancy times. lengthLong tenure means steady cash flow and less maintenance and repair overhead. Long-term tenants take good care of their properties. They tend to be generally settled and have stable employment. These are the gold standard for tenants as an investor.
of courseSooner or LaterThere may be a problem with one of the tenants. That’s life. you need Become familiar Got ready Prepared for any eventuality, including squatters and eviction issues.
I need to do some research again here You should be aware of local housing laws and regulations. a lot I am more pro-homeowner than others.
4. Look beyond metropolitan areas
this Here’s the secret to being a successful real estate investor: Most people only look at metropolitan areas because that’s all they’ve heard of.
We’ve all heard of New York, Miami and Chicago, and again, you’d be surprised at how many budding investors limit their real estate search to big cities. Or they simply do nothing They automatically head to big cities without doing any thorough research.
nevertheless The best deals are found in emerging and secondary markets. These secondary markets are usually located within 30 miles of a major metropolitan area and offer more affordable housing prices than larger cities., However, rents remain high and demand remains high.
A good example is the Orlando area in Florida, where home prices are very high and rental regulations are very strict. My strategy is to invest in suburbs and towns outside of Orlando. One such area is Polk County, just south of the city, where home prices are a fraction of Orlando, but rents are still relatively close to the city.
You have to think like a potential renter here. It was moving If you were to move your family to a new location, would you choose a super luxury apartment in downtown Chicago/Miami/Orlando? Rather Why not move a little further away, say within a 30-minute commute, and enjoy more space, a nice garden and less air pollution?
Typically in wealthy suburban areas Selection subjects In urban areas, demand for rental properties is growing as families grow. moving To the suburbs or nearby towns where the cost of living is more affordable.
One rule of thumb is to not go too far. Most people don’t want to trade city life for country living. They want the same perks of city life, just better value for money and a slightly slower pace of life. small The difference here is important.
Take Harvest, Alabama, for example. Technically it’s in the Huntsville, Alabama metropolitan area and just a 25-minute drive from Huntsville. But with its serene, intimate country-town feel and local parks, it has a different vibe than Huntsville itself.
Harvest’s average rent is very healthy. $1,883— higher than Huntsville itself $1,478. this just This shows that people are still willing to pay more for areas they perceive as having an easy commute to work and being more attractive overall.
Final thoughts
Armed with these less-explored details, you can create better cash flow and build a real estate portfolio that is less likely to fail in the long term. Research thoroughly and perform your due diligence, and you will reap the rewards.
This article is provided by Rent To Retirement
Rent To Retirement is the nation’s leading turnkey investment company offering passive income rental properties in the best markets across the U.S., maximizing cash flow and asset value. Rent To Retirement is your partner in achieving financial independence and early retirement through real estate investing. Let our comprehensive team handle everything for you and invest in the best markets today.
BiggerPockets notes: These are opinions expressed by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.
