There are so many different options when it comes to finding an investment. If you have money you want to invest, the range of choice might initially seem like a positive thing; at least you will be able to choose exactly the investment that will work best for you. However, the more you look into this subject, the more overwhelming it can feel, and that wide range of choice can suddenly seem highly problematic. This is why research is essential, but where should you start?
Real estate is an excellent place to start. It’s something that is relatively easy to understand – much more so than stocks and shares, for example – and the process, although complex, is thorough and calculated, meaning that there will be many opportunities to change your mind without losing any money. This is not the case with many other types of investment.
Yet just because real estate is a good place to begin when it comes to choosing investments, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be the right thing for you, and it may not be the right place for your money. With that in mind, here are some of the reasons why real estate is the right investment for you; if these don’t tally with what you’re looking for or they don’t work for you, you can move onto the next idea instead.
You have a passion for property
If you invest in real estate, no rule or law says you must like property and have a passion for it. However, if you want to be successful, you’ll need to enjoy property. It’s just like any other kind of business; if you like what you’re doing, you’re sure to put more effort into your research and choices, and you’ll be more successful because of this.
If you love looking through property listings (even when you’re not buying or selling), and you enjoy thinking about home improvement, and perhaps you know just what would make a property more appealing to a buyer, then real estate could be the right option for you when you want to invest your money.
You’re happy to do research
Research is a big part of any kind of investment. You won’t want to just spend your money unless you understand where it is going and what kind of return you might make. This would be disastrous. So if you’re considering investing in property, you need to be happy to do research about the property you’re buying. You’ll need to dig as deep as possible to get all the information you need to make an informed decision.
This means not only looking at the best places to live in Orange County so you know which neighborhoods to pick and which to avoid, but looking at each individual house that you think has potential. Questions to ask yourself are whether there is any additional building happening nearby, or if the house has ever flooded, or whether there are good schools in the area, and more. Put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer (if you’re buying to fix and flip) or tenant (if you intend to be a landlord) – what could be off-putting? Find out as much as you can, and only then can you make the right choice.
This might mean that a house you thought was ideal is actually no good, and you’ll have to start your search all over again. If you’re not willing to put in this time and effort, real estate investing isn’t the right choice for you.
Are you in it for the long haul?
Real estate is a long-term investment, and this is perhaps one of the most important and potentially most surprising elements of this type of investment. No matter what you choose to do with the property once you have bought it, you will need time – and possibly decades – to make any real money from it. It is possible to ‘flip’ a house relatively quickly, but the longer you can wait, the more money you’ll make.
If you want to make money quickly, then real estate would probably be a bad idea. Of course, you could become a landlord and rent the property, making a monthly income, but the yield would be small, and you won’t make a fortune this way – at least not while you have a mortgage.
The point is, you need to ensure you have calculated how long it will take you to make the kind of return that will make property investment worthwhile before you go ahead and spend your money in this way.
Can you start small?
We understand that investing is exciting, and we understand that you’ll want to get started as soon as you can and possibly in a big way. If you are serious about property investment, however, you’ll need to be able to start small. Buying a one-bedroom apartment rather than a huge mansion is a better use of your money for a number of reasons. Firstly, it costs less initially, and secondly, the smaller the property, the easier it is to sell. Of course, the profits will be smaller, but it is a safer option.
If you feel that you aren’t able to start small because you’re excited about getting started and you want to spend everything you have, then real estate may be something you should bypass. There are other types of investment that have less risk and in which you can spend more, but when it comes to property, you do need to start small and work up to something more significant.
Is other investment better?
Unless real estate is the first kind of investment you have ever looked into, it’s worth comparing it to any others you have researched. Which do you like best? As you can see, there are a lot of positives when it comes to real estate, but if another type of investment appeals to you more, then it’s best to go with your gut (as long as you do have all the details you need to make an informed decision).
(Disclaimer: This content is a partnered post. This material is provided as news and general information. It should not be construed as an endorsement of any investment service. The opinions expressed are the personal views and experience of the author, and no recommendation is made.)
