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A Little Known Financial Technique to Help You Get Top Dollar For Your Home

For most people, the prospect of selling their home can be positively daunting. For starters, there are usually plenty of things to do just to get it ready for the market. Besides the traditional clean-up, paint-up, fix-up chores that invariably wind up costing more than you planned, there are always the overriding concerns about how much the market will bear and how much you will eventually wind up selling it for.

Will you get your asking price, or will you have to drop your price to make the deal? After all, your home is a major investment, no doubt a rather large one, so when it comes to selling it you want to get your highest possible return. Yet, in spite of everyone’s desire to get top dollar for their property, most people are extremely unsure as to how to go about getting it.

Some savvy sellers have long known a little financial technique that has helped them to get top dollar for their property. In fact, on some rare occasions, they have even sold their properties for more than they were worth using this powerful financing tool. Although that might be the exception rather than the rule, you can certainly use this technique to get the most money possible when selling your property.

Seller carry-back, or take-back financing, has proven to be a surefire technique for closing deals. Even though most people do not think about it when it comes to selling a property, they really should consider using it. According to the Federal Reserve, there are currently over 100 billion dollars of seller carry-back (seller take-back) loans in existence. By any standard, that is a lot of money. But most importantly, it is also a very clear indication that more people are starting to use seller take-back financing techniques because it offers many financial benefits to both sellers and buyers.

Basically, seller take-back financing is a relatively simple concept. A seller-take back loan is created when a property is sold and the seller performs like a lender by assisting in financing part of the total transaction. This can be a big help to cash strapped buyers that are having a hard time coming up with a down payment, and want to avoid paying mortgage insurance, which is required when putting down less than 20 percent of the purchase price.

In effect, the seller is actually lending the buyer a certain amount of money toward the purchase price. The traditional mortgage lender takes first position, and the take back mortgage will act as a second mortgage. The seller take-back loan is secured with the property just as the first mortgage is. It is important to note that a traditional mortgage lender will usually not agree to take second place, and they must be made aware of the existence of any other financing.

In most seller take-back financing transactions, the buyer repays the seller with interest in accordance to mutually agreed terms over a period of time. The take back loan is recorded as a regular mortgage on the property. Usually, the terms call for the buyer to send the payments, consisting of principal and interest, on a monthly basis. This is advantageous because it creates a steady monthly cash flow for the note holder. And if the note holder decides to cash out, he or she can always sell the note for a lump sum cash payment. This should be spelled out to the buyer in the note.

Regardless of market conditions, seller take-back financing makes sound financial sense; it provides both buyer and seller with flexible financing options, makes the property easier to sell at a higher price and shortens the sales cycle. It also has the added advantage of being an excellent investment that generates a steady cash flow and high return. If you ever need immediate cash, you can always sell the note.

If you are planning to sell a property, then consider the many benefits of seller take-back financing, and make sure to discuss any legal and tax implications with your financial and legal adviser.

Good News! Fannie and Freddie Increase Loan Limits

It has been more than a decade since Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have increased their maximum conforming loan limits. This is good news, particularly if you are a first time home buyer. What it means is that if you are purchasing a one family home (or even if you are refinancing), the rate will not increase if your mortgage exceeds $417,000.

Here are the new loan limits for 2017 for the contiguous states, DC and Puerto Rico :

 

One Family: $424,100

Two Family: $543,000

Three Family: $656,350

Four Family: $815,650

Loans above these amounts are considered High Cost Loans. Limits for these loans can be found on the Fannie Mae website or by clicking here.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages from lenders, package them into securities and guarantee to investors the repayment of principal and interest. This keeps interest rates low in the United States.

For government loans, the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) will increase loan limits across most areas in the United States. Its loan limit “ceiling” in high-cost areas would rise to $636,150 from $625,500.

 

Common Risks Involved in Real Estate Investments

While a good many millionaires will agree that their fortunes were made in real estate, the honest ones will also tell you that they’ve probably lost a few fortunes in real estate along the way. This is a risky business and every property purchased doesn’t always pan out to become a successful investment.

There are many risks involved in real estate investing and you would be going to battle unprepared if you didn’t take a moment to carefully study these risks and work to avoid them when planning your property investment strategy.

Unfortunately, there are very few one size fits all risks for real estate investing, as each type of investing is inherently different. This means that each type of real estate investment will involve a new set of risks.

Below you will find a brief overview of different styles of investing and the common risks that are involved in each.

Rental Properties

This type of investing offers some risks that are unique and some that are also risks when investing in properties that are lease-to-own or rent-to-own as well. First and foremost is the risk of failing to make a profit. If the property in question cannot achieve an adequate monthly income to cover the expenses of operating the property then it is not a solid investment.

Other risks include the risk of getting bad tenants. This is particularly hard on first time investors. Bad tenants are costly and in some cases destructive (which leads to even greater expense).

Vacancies are another risk for rental properties. These properties are only costing money as they sit empty rather than earning money as they were intended. Short turnovers are in your best interest as are long-term tenants.

“Flipped” Properties

This is one of the most enjoyable types of property investments for many ‘hands on’ investors. This allows the investor to roll up his or her sleeves and take an active role in creating the masterpiece that will eventually bring in serious revenue (at least that is the hope). This is also one of the riskier investments, particularly when trying to turn a profit in what is known as a buyer’s market.

The risks are simple but often overlooked and they can have a significant impact on the overall success or failure of the project. First of all, the biggest risk is in paying too much for the property. Other risks include underestimating the costs of repairs, over estimating the ability of the investor to do the work him or herself, taking too much time, experiencing a down turn in the housing market, making the wrong judgment call for the neighborhood, becoming overly ambitious, and getting greedy. Sometimes it is much better to walk away with a lesser profit than to end up loosing money by holding out.

Personal Residence

Keep in mind that your personal home is essentially an investment. The intention is that your home will gain in value over time and that equity in your home will build as you age. There are risks involved in this transaction as well. Buying a home that is in a ‘borderline’ area or one that is not showing obvious signs of growth is one of the biggest risks. This puts your home in the position to lose rather than gain value. This can make your home a burden rather than the investment it was intended to be. Other risks involve is becoming involved in a loan situation that is not at all beneficial (such as an adjustable rate mortgage or an unreasonable balloon payment).

Perhaps the biggest risk of all when purchasing a personal residence as an investment, is failing to get a proper inspection that could rule out potentially costly and even dangerous problems within the home your purchase for you and your family.

Toxic mold is one problem that comes easily to mind that most proper home inspections would almost immediately rule out. Others include structural problems that are costly to repair and dangerous to leave in disrepair. Each of these risks should be considered before an offer is made on any property.

For those seeking to turn impressive profits in short order, real estate is one way in which this can be accomplished. It is in your best interest, however, to be aware of the risks that are involved and take careful steps to minimize those risks. Taking these steps now may cost a little more on the front end but in many cases, the pay off for doing so well outweigh the expenses.

Build Equity By Choosing The Right Mortgage

Home ownership is the key to building wealth for most people because it is an involuntary savings account. As you pay down your mortgage each month, the value of your interest in the home rises.

Build Equity By Choosing The Right Mortgage

Equity is a beautiful word as every homeowner knows. Once you get used to making your mortgage payments, you can rest assured that you are creating a nest egg every month. Throw in the appreciation on the property and your nest egg can grow large before you realize it. This savings account, better known as equity, can provide the means for putting your kids through college, dealing with emergencies and retiring.

Building equity is fairly simple, just make your monthly mortgage payment. There are additional steps you can take to move the process along at a faster pace. These steps are all about the type of mortgage you obtain when you purchase your home.

When you purchase a property, particular for the first time, it can be a stressful event. Right or wrong, most people tend to take anything they can get in a mortgage loan so they can meet close. This is understandable, but can come back to haunt you financially. If you can step back from the chaos for a moment, you might consider the following options that will help build equity.

A 30 year mortgage is the default for most home buyers. It is the first thing that comes to mind, and most assume it is the safest option. It is the mortgage I recommend to most home buyers, because it has the lowest monthly interest and highest deduction for tax purposes.

However, we are discussing acquiring equity, and for that purpose, a 15 year mortgage is going to cut down on the total interest you pay on the loan as well as supercharge your equity growth. A 15 year loan is far better than a longer option to build equity, but only if you are absolutely sure you can meet the monthly payment requirements. If you have any doubts whatsoever, there is another option that you can consider.

Making prepayments on principal is a simple, proven way to build equity. The idea is to make an extra monthly payment when you have sufficient cash to do so. Effectively, you use your home as a savings account by doing this.

The advantage over other investments is the equity growth should be tax free. Before taking this step, find out from your lender if there are any prepayment penalties. Regardless, making two of these payments each year will quickly build equity in your home. Make sure your extra payments are credited toward the principal balance of your loan, not the interest.

If any of these ideas sound interesting, you can still take advantage of them even if you currently have a mortgage. Refinancing your mortgage gives you an opportunity to correct mistakes you made when you were more focused on your initial purchase. Talk to me to find out your options.

Investing in Real Estate – A Beginners Guide

Many people who are looking for extra income are now looking into real estate investing. With home values increasing, it is an excellent way to earn extra cash, and possibly a gateway to a new and profitable career. You just have to learn the ins and outs of the business.

I would suggest starting out with residential real estate, which is something that most people are familiar with. If you are good with your hands or know someone who is, you will start off with an advantage.

When you are first starting out with investing in houses, you should always look for ugly or bad houses that need a moderate amount of work. These homes are much cheaper to purchase, although they will take some work to improve. You should start out by looking for houses that need some work, such as clean up, painting, and in some cases new carpet. You don’t want to buy something too run down, as it could cost a fortune to repair.

As I stated earlier, if you think of yourself as a handyman and feel that you can do the repairs yourself, you can save a lot of money. On the other hand, if you need to hire someone, you should always make sure that the individual or company that you hire is qualified to do the repairs. If you aren’t comfortable with doing any of the repairs, you should inquire about a subcontractor or company that will do it for a reasonable price, or perhaps a share of the money once you have resold the house.

If the house you are thinking to purchase and resell has any type of structural problems, you should always get an estimate from a reliable contractor before you make the purchase. If you decide to stay in the business, you’ll learn a lot more over the years, although you should always hire a contractor when you first start out. Once you get all of the estimates together, you can make the final decision on how much of an offer you want to make on the property. You should also make sure you can obtain mortgage financing on the house, unless you are able to pay cash.

After you have a team together and successfully renovated and resold several homes, you will begin to feel more confident with buying homes that need repairs. All it takes is time and practice – and you’ll be buying homes that the average investor wouldn’t think twice about. This can be a huge advantage when you are looking for homes to buy and resell, as there will be less competition to worry about. You’ll also be able to get a lower price when buying the home, simply because you can use the cost of the repairs to your advantage.

Once you are able to do repairs on homes, including structural problems, you’ll have a huge advantage in the market. You’ll be able to buy virtually any home, including those that other investors choose to ignore. Doing so can be very profitable for you, especially if the house is in a well known and well desired neighborhood. After you have done the repairs, you can resell the home for a much higher price than you paid to acquire the property.

When you start looking for houses that you can repair and resell, you should always take your time and buy the right homes. You won’t have the money, time, experience, or support to buy the bigger houses at first, which means you won’t have room for mistakes. Once you have purchased and resold a few smaller homes, you’ll eventually be able to work your way up to the bigger homes – which is where the big profits will come into play.

Always keep in mind that when you first start out, you’ll need to take things slowly. You can’t expect profits to come overnight, as it will take you some time to learn. Once you have been at it a few years and have several houses to your credit, you’ll be ready to tackle anything. At that point – you’ll make a lot of money in a career that is truly exciting.

Buying A House In A Sellers Market

In different parts of the country right now it’s definitely a sellers market. Inventory of homes for sale is low, interest rates are low, and there are a lot of buyers out there looking to get into a home. The recent uptick in mortgage rates have even more buyers pulling the trigger. So how are you going to find your dream home when you are competing against so many other buyers?

When you find a home you like be sure to act on it quickly! Have your agent give you a tour of the house, don’t wait for an open house to happen! A lot of homes are getting offers within the first couple weeks of being on the market, so it’s important to arrange a showing quickly if it’s a home you are interested in. Wait too long and the home could be under contract.

Once you find the home you like it’s time to make an offer. Your agent should be doing a comparative market analysis of recently sold homes in the area that are similar sizes. This will help you determine if the list price is over or under what it will most likely be appraised at. Once you come up with a number you feel comfortable with, submit it to the seller and hope for the best!

If you find yourself in a multiple offer situation you might want to take a different approach. If it’s a house you really love consider doing an escalation clause. Instead of listing a price of what you’d like to buy at, tell the seller you are willing to pay $2,000 to $3,000 more than the highest bidder and want right of last refusal.

A seller is not going to object to getting more money for their home, and if the highest offer is outrageous you can always walk away from the home knowing it’s not worth it. But this way you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you didn’t overpay by thousands of dollars.

If the seller accepts your offer the house isn’t yours quite yet. It’s key that you get a home inspector to look over the home and try to find any damages that you might not be aware of. This includes things like a cracked foundation, mold, leaks in the roof, and other major repairs.

You can use your inspection as a way to gain leverage in negotiations, asking for items to be repaired or for credits at closing to make up for the repairs that need to be done. If the seller refuses to renegotiate this is one of the several points in the buying process in which you can walk away from the home with a valid reason.

The purchase of your home will also be contingent on the appraisal and your mortgage being approved. Using the right mortgage broker (like yours truly) will insure that the mortgage process won’t be long and frustrating.

Once you are clear to close by the bank the house can finally be yours! But until then be prepared for the emotional roller coaster that is buying a home.

Protecting Yourself from Mortgage Fraud

It’s hard to believe, but there are people out there looking to prey on people’s ignorance when it comes to buying property. The mortgage fraud game is larger than you think, and every year, thousands of people fall victim to over-appraised properties, higher than normal interest rates, and loan amounts that are way more than their budget allows.

How do you know if you’re being hustled? It’s not as cut and dry as you might think, but here are some tips to help you see through the charade:

The first tip is to trust your gut. For this scam to be pulled off, you’re going to have to deal with a crooked real estate agent who points you to a piece of property, then an appraiser who will over-value the property, and then a bank officer who will validate that price. With all these dishonest people floating around, your gut should tell you something is wrong at some point. Keep your eyes open and if something starts to smell fishy (like the land they are trying to make you buy) than start asking questions.

Keep an eye out for scams like these targeting the elderly; they tend to be more trustworthy than younger people, and tend to take people at their word. These scams have also been known to target first-time buyers who don’t know how transactions like these are suppose to go.

So, how to protect yourself? Here are some warning signs to look for:

If your real estate broker demands that you use a particular lender (i.e. the lender that’s in on the scam), just say no. Tell your broker that you’ll use whatever lender or mortgage broker you want and that you’ve shopped around and you’ve chosen a different one. If your broker or agent gets a little testy at this, you might want to consider dumping them.

Another good sign that you’re dealing with less than honest people is that your lender is trying to talk you into borrowing more than what your budget allows. This is never, ever a good idea. You should go into every discussion with your lender knowing exactly what your limits are.

This one is just common sense, but make sure you get copies of everything you sign. If you don’t, demand them. Also, if you feel you’ve signed something less than honest, take the documents to a lawyer to have them looked over.

Scammers have been a part of the real estate scene for as long as there has been swampland in Florida or a bridge in Brooklyn to sell. They aren’t going anywhere (except maybe to prison) so you have to equip yourself with the knowledge of how to deal with them.

 

Basic Things to Know When Buying a Home

The most important investment you will ever make is probably the purchase of a home. Finding the right home can be a long and arduous process, but there is no getting around that.

Know Your Wants And Needs

Before embarking on your journey of house hunting, you must know what you really want to find. Sit down with pen and paper and list all the features you care most about, such as:

– Location (in a particular city, school district or neighborhood)

– Size — how many bedrooms and bathrooms

– Parking — a 1-car garage or 2?

– Style — 2-story house or ranch style home?

– Heating — central heating and/or air conditioning?

Equally important, on a new sheet of paper list all the features you absolutely do not want in a house. For example:

– high-traffic area.

– high noise area (airport, train station or highway in close proximity)

– maintenance — major repairs needed

As you look at houses, keep both lists in mind. Your lists may change over time as you do more looking. You’ll want to add or remove features, or perhaps you’ll become willing to make compromises. Realize that you most likely will not find the “perfect” home. Experienced homebuyers will tell you, perfect homes are not found, they are made perfect through hard work.

Get Your Credit Report In Order

Prior to looking at properties, you must get your finances in order. This is the time to review your credit report and clean it up, if need be, to maximize your credit score. Many people do not realize how important it is to check your credit report periodically to make sure it is accurate. You should pay off any past due amounts, or negotiate a settlement price to close the debt. Get such agreements in writing, before paying any settlement. Keep all receipts for any settled items from your credit report since it may take months to get the debt actually removed. You can obtain a free credit report once a year from www.AnnualCreditReport.com

Research Your Home-Buying Options

Decide what kind of property you are interested in. Do you want a HUD property, a foreclosure, real estate, or property for sale by owner?

A number of web sites list homes according to city, state, or price range. Visit these sites to see pictures of homes, many with virtual tours, and review the listing features.

Get Pre-Approved For A Loan

You’re ready now to find a lender and get yourself pre-approved for the loan. Being pre-approved offers a number of advantages. It will clarify the price range you can afford. Also, once you find the home you want, you can place an immediate offer. If you have to wait for pre-approval, someone could buy the house right out from under you. Feel free to contact me to obtain a pre-approval.

Find A Good Real Estate Agent

It is wise for a first time homebuyer to work closely with a real estate agent, no matter what type of property you’re looking for. A knowledgeable real estate agent will make your house-hunting much easier. A good real estate agent is usually a good negotiator, and will be able to help you with the complicated paperwork involved in placing an offer on a house or in closing a deal.

To select a real estate agent, you should check with your friends and neighbors for recommendations. Find an agent you feel comfortable with and who is knowledgeable about the area you hope to buy in.

These are just the basics of home buying. You will find many details you need to master as you move through the buying process, but having these basics under your belt will give you a head start.

Debt-to-Income Ratio –It’s Just as Important as Your Credit Score When Buying a New Home

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is a simple way of calculating how much of your monthly income goes toward debt payments. Lenders use the DTI to determine how much money they can safely loan you toward a home purchase or mortgage refinancing. Everyone knows that their credit score is an important factor in qualifying for a loan. But in reality, the DTI is every bit as important as the credit score.

Lenders usually apply a standard called the “28/36 rule” to your debt-to-income ratio to determine whether you’re loan-worthy. The first number, 28, is the maximum percentage of your gross monthly income that the lender will allow for housing expenses. The total includes payments on the mortgage loan, mortgage insurance, fire insurance, property taxes, and homeowner’s association dues. This is usually called PITI, which stands for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

The second number, 36, refers to the maximum percentage of your gross monthly income the lender will allow for housing expenses PLUS recurring debt. When they calculate your recurring debt, they will include credit card payments, child support, car loans, and other obligations that are not short-term.

Let’s say your gross earnings are $4,000 per month. $4,000 times 28% equals $1,120. So that is the maximum PITI, or housing expense, that a typical lender will allow for a conventional mortgage loan. In other words, the 28 figure determines how much house you can afford.

Now, $4,000 times 36% is $1,440. This figure represents the TOTAL debt load that the lender will permit. $1,440 minus $1,120 is $320. So if your monthly obligations on recurring debt exceed $320, the size of the mortgage you’ll qualify for will decrease proportionally. If you are paying $600 per month on recurring debt, for example, instead of $320, your PITI must be reduced to $840 or less. That translates to a much smaller loan and a lot less house.

Bear in mind that your car payment has to come out of that difference between 28% and 36%, so in our example, the car payment must be included in the $320. It doesn’t take much these days to reach a $300/month car payment, even for a modest vehicle, so that doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for other types of debt.

The moral of the story here is that too much debt can ruin your chances of qualifying for a home mortgage. Remember, the debt-to-income ratio is something that lenders look at separately from your credit history. That’s because your credit score only reflects your payment history. It’s a measurement of how responsibly you’ve managed your use of credit. But your credit score does not take into account your level of income. That’s why the DTI is treated separately as a critical filter on loan applications. So even if you have a PERFECT payment history, but the mortgage you’ve applied for would cause you to exceed the 36% limit, you’ll still be turned down for the loan by reputable lenders.

The 28/36 rule for debt-to-income ratio is a benchmark that has worked well in the mortgage industry for years. Unfortunately, with the recent boom in real estate prices, lenders have been forced to get more “creative” in their lending practices. Whenever you hear the term “creative” in connection with loans or financing, just substitute “riskier” and you’ll have the true picture. Naturally, the extra risk is shifted to the consumer, not the lender.

Mortgages used to be pretty simple to understand: You paid a fixed rate of interest for 30 years, or maybe 15 years. As time went on, mortgages started to come in a variety of flavors, such as adjustable-rate, 40-year, interest-only, option-adjustable, or piggyback mortgages, each of which may be structured in a number of ways. Many of these types of loans helped contribute to the mortgage crisis in 2008.

The whole idea behind all these types of mortgages was to shoehorn people into qualifying for loans based on their debt-to-income ratio. “It’s all about the payment,” was the prevailing view in the mortgage industry. That’s fine if your payment is fixed for 30 years. But what happens to your adjustable rate mortgage if interest rates rise? Your monthly payment will go up, and you might quickly exceed the safety limit of the old 28/36 rule.

These alternative mortgage products were fine as long as interest rates didn’t climb too far or too fast, and also as long as real estate prices continued to appreciate at a healthy pace. Make sure you understand the worst-case scenario before taking on one of these complicated loans. The 28/36 rule for debt-to-income has been around so long simply because it works to keep people out of risky loans. As we have gotten further away from the mortgage crisis that helped ruin the economy in the early 2000, lenders are now stretching those ratios based on the strength of the rest of the file.

Make sure you understand exactly how far or how fast your loan payment can increase before accepting a non-traditional type of mortgage. If your DTI disqualifies you for a conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage, then you should think twice before squeezing yourself into an adjustable rate mortgage just to keep the payment manageable.

Instead, think in terms of increasing your initial down payment on the property in order to lower the amount you’ll need to finance. It may take you longer to get into your dream home by using this more conservative approach, but that’s certainly better than losing that dream home to foreclosure because increasing monthly payments have driven your debt-to-income ratio sky-high.

How to Find a Good Real Estate Investment Property

There are many ways in which you can find a great property for your real estate investment. The problem lies in the fact that many would be investors aren’t exactly certain what specific types of investment they wish to make.

Unfortunately, the type of investing will greatly affect the type of property that will best suit your real estate needs. This article focuses on finding a great property for the purpose of flipping or rehabbing a property.

Seek Bargains

This is absolutely a necessary step when it comes to finding properties with excellent potential as flipped properties. Bargains are often sold at bargain prices for a reason. The good news is that many of these reasons are purely cosmetic and quite simple to fix.

Finding a realtor that is willing to work with you for lower prices, bargain properties offer an excellent place to begin. If he or she is a knowledgeable professional you should have access to properties that would have been unavailable to you had you continued the search without the assistance of a professional.

Another great place to find bargains of this nature is to search through foreclosures, auctions, and homes that are preparing to enter into foreclosure. While not always the case, there are many in these situations that are willing to be a bit more flexible with the price.

Never offer full asking price first. Start low and negotiate up. This may lose some properties but in the end it will be a much more profitable venture if you can get the properties you want for a smaller investment.

Know the Neighborhood

Before placing a bid on a potential property for flipping you need to learn as much about the neighborhood as possible. You do not want to place a family home in the middle of a retirement neighborhood, nor do you want to place a potential bachelor pad in that type of area.

You also want to avoid areas that are entering a state of decline, as the rehab efforts are unlikely to achieve the profits you are hoping to receive. Instead, look for bargains in areas that are approaching some sort of renewal or have very low crime and excellent growth potential.

If you are rehabbing a home that is meant to appeal to families make sure the neighborhood is safe, has a relatively low crime rate, access to good schools, and entertainment opportunities that may appeal to families.

These things will affect the price you are likely to be able to expect once the rehab efforts have been completed as well as the type of renovations you will need to perform on the property. Buying a property in an area that you know nothing about is like buying a property without an inspection-which brings me to my next point.

Get a Thorough Inspection

This is one of the most important steps in the process of selecting the perfect property for your real estate investment needs. A qualified inspection will prepare you for any problems that may arise during the course of your work on the home. These are things that will affect the amount of money you should offer on the home, the amount of money you will need to invest in repairs, and the amount of money you can expect once all is said and done.

Failing to have a complete and proper inspection can lead to disaster when the renovations begin costing extra money and time as efforts are undone in order to get to the root of the problems as you go. There are very few things that can save you the time or money that having a decent inspection can manage to save.

Inspections can also make you aware of any structural problems, code problems, and other problems that may mean the difference between this property offering a possible profit or a probable loss. It is much better to be armed with this knowledge before ever making an offer on the property in question.

Realize That You do not Need to Buy the First Property You See

This is an important thing to remember. If the first property doesn’t speak to you, move on until you find one that does. This process is part science and part inspiration. If you are uninspired by a property it is unlikely that this property will suddenly take on a life of its own in order to suit your real estate investment needs.

Keep searching until you find the property that meets all of your needs in order to find the perfect property for your first or your fiftieth flip.

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