
The average cost of a house is nearly $400,000, but a rehab property is much more affordable.
A rehab house (or fixer-upper) is a type of house that requires several renovations for comfortable living. Rehab houses make great investments because they allow one to profit several thousands of dollars.
However, buying a house is no small investment, so you must know several things to avoid wasting money.
Read on to learn several tips for buying a rehab house!
1. Set a Budget
Before buying a rehab property, setting a budget is necessary if you want to narrow down your options.
The budget will outline how much you’re willing to spend on a rehab house. To set one, you must consider both your income and the amount you already have.
If you don’t plan on buying a property soon, you can continue to save money to increase your budget. This will not only prevent you from limiting your options, but it’ll also help you quickly improve the property.
2. Choose a Location
After setting a budget, you must then choose a general area in which you’d like to buy a rehab property. This is crucial when making a property investment to profit from because some areas have higher demand than others.
When you buy a fixer-upper in any area and improve it, you’ll increase its value; however, you’ll get more by improving one near commercial buildings. This is because people are more likely to spend more on a home if activities are nearby.
3. Compare Houses
Never invest in real estate until you research the market. When you find an area that interests you, look at several properties to get a better idea of what’s available.
If you neglect to research the market, you may end up overspending on something that won’t provide much value. In other words, a better property may be out there that you may not discover.
You should also determine which time of the year is best for property investment. In many places, sellers lower their prices at the end of summer and early fall.
4. Calculate Costs
The last thing you must do when buying a rehab property is calculate the restoration costs.
The best property is one you can pay the least for and profit the most from. If you end up spending a lot on restoration, the amount you’ll profit may be little. Because of this, try to find a house that needs minor, affordable fixes.
If you plan on renting out the property, you should also consider property management rates. You can look here for more info about property managers.
Start Looking for a Rehab Property
Getting the most out of a rehab property is as simple as following these tips. Now that you know them, start thinking about a few areas that interest you, then you can browse the available houses in them.
Would you like more real estate advice? Check out the rest of our blog for helpful articles.