Since the onset of the global credit card crunch a number of radical changes have taken place in the mortgage industry. Lenders have had to tighten their credit conditions and eligibility criteria, the number of mortgage products on the market has dwindled by two thirds, arrangement fees on mortgage loans have shot up, borrowing costs on mortgages have risen, and lenders have been asking for far higher deposits from borrowers in order to access their best rates.
According to one recent report the average amount of deposit that is now required in order to access a best buy mortgages has rocketed to £37,119. With borrowers looking to find nearly £40,000 in order to get an affordable mortgage deal many more people will find themselves priced out of the market, particularly first time buyers will no previous property from which to take equity.
Officials from mform.co.uk have said that consumers in England and Wales would be looking to pay an average £180,781 for a property, and this would mean finding a deposit of over £37,000 in order to secure the most competitive and affordable mortgage deals. Officials have added that the amount of money that borrowers are having to find upfront has been rising even though actual house prices have been falling for many months now.
One official from the group said: ‘Availability of mortgage deals remains the biggest issue for borrowers who do not have equity in their homes. Those who have benefited from the decade-long housing boom can still qualify for the most competitive rates. However, first-time buyers or those who have entered the property market recently will struggle to qualify for the most competitive rates.’
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Investing in real estate is not something that a person just does on the spur of the moment. This is a well thought out and discussed matter that is put into action over a period of time. Well that is the way that it should be. The fact of the matter is that half of the people that get involved in real estate investments have no idea what they are doing. Instead they have found a cheap property and hope to make a profit.
While it is possible to turn a profit with nothing more than dumb luck and being in the right place at the right time, the true real estate investor will leave little to luck. They will have a real estate investment strategy. The real estate investment strategy is something that is vital to success in the market. Real Estate is highly volatile and fortunes can turn at a moment’s notice. But the savvy investor can weather the storm and ensure that profits are made with each transaction.
The winning real estate strategy will have several components. It should include, at the very least, the following with minor changes made along the way.
Target Property Type
You need to have a good idea of what kind of real estate that you are looking to invest in. This can mean one of many things, like single family dwellings, apartment complexes and even commercial property for development. Once you have settled on a specific property type you should stick with it. Deviation from this part can mean that you are getting in over your head and will end up with losses as opposed to gains.
Location
If you are planning on investing in property outside of your home territory then you need to find out about the locations. In every place in the world there are good areas and bad areas. The bad areas are your normal low income homes and apartments, where property values are in the tank. Buying in these areas is extremely risky. Stay clear of the potential bad parts of the area and concentrate on mid level to upper level property for the best profit and risk ratio.
Price
You also need to become familiar with the idea of real estate pricing. This is something that is going to change with the market. When the market is up then prices are going to rise and vice versa. Knowing the value of a property as well as the potential sale value will give you a better understanding of how much you should pay for the property. Negotiation is key here, as well as good old fashioned common sense.
Buying and Selling
Finally you have to know when to buy and when to sell. Since property values are always moving you have to be positive in your timing. Selling a property in a buyers market can actually cause you to lose money. When the number of properties is far above the number of buyers then the prices will plummet. Keep a close eye on the market and how other sellers are behaving before making any hasty judgment calls.
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Is real estate investing only for the wealthy? Can you buy with no money down? Do you have to know the “right” people? Let’s answer by looking at some of the myths of real estate.
1. Real estate investing is for the wealthy. Money helps, but my first real estate investment was a $3,500 lot – which I sold for a profit two weeks after I bought it. Small deals, partners, low-down deals, or just putting aside $7 per day for a couple years until you have enough money for a downpayment – these are some of the ways to start with a little and invest in real estate.
2. “0 down” isn’t possible. I sold a rental property for $1,000 down because I trusted the buyer to make the payments, and I wanted the 9% interest and higher price. He could have gotten a cash-advance on a credit card for another $30 per month and made it a “0-down” deal. “No money down” means none of YOUR money down, and yes, it happens.
3. “0 down” is the best way. If you don’t invest some of your own money, you’ll have higher payments. You’ll also spend more time finding suitable properties, and pay more for them (generally cooperative sellers want more for their cooperation – I do). There are 0-down deals out there – they just aren’t always worth doing.
4. You need experience. Experience helps, but you get it by investing. Start with common sense, ask how you can lose money, be willing to learn the numbers, and you can start where you are.
5. Some investors have a “knack” for making money. Sort of. More accurately, some just took the time and risk to learn the market and continue their education.
6. You need to know the “right” people. It helps, so start the process. Talk to investors, real estate agents, landlords, etc.
7. You have to be great negotiator. If you learn to run the numbers and make the offers based on them, you can be the worst negotiator and still do okay.
8. You need insider knowledge. Understand one deal, and you are on your way. Read and read more, but the best “insider” knowledge comes from experience.
9. Fixer-uppers are safe. People have the idea that doing the work themselves is the safest way to assure a profit. Not true. Mis-planned “fix and flips” have bankrupted even experienced investors. Most poorly purchased rental properties will only eat a little money every month.
10. The key is lowball offers. The numbers have to work, and you need a plan. You can offer MORE than the market price and make money investing in real estate, if you understand creative financing – and how to do the math.
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