What To Look For In An Investment Property (2024)

February 15, 20245-minute read

Author: Victoria Araj

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Are you interested in real estate investing? Before you start the search for an investment property, you should know what to look for. Since these types of properties require a financial investment, it’s essential to get the best bang for your buck – especially if you’re looking to turn this property into a long-term investment.

We’re going to discuss what features to look for when searching for the right investment property for you.

6 Features To Look For In An Investment Property

Look for these features when you embark on the hunt for an investment property.

1. Has Potential For Long-Term Profit

One of the potential benefits you should look for in an investment property is if it has the capability to make you a solid profit over time. If you know how much money you’ll be putting into the home, you’ll want to ensure that you can make some positive cash flow to offset those costs. This is especially important since you’ll most likely also be making mortgage payments on this property.

If you’re going to rent out your investment property, you should also calculate how much you could make in rental income, so you know what type of profit you could come away with after purchasing this property. Not only is this good to do before you buy an investment property, but it can also help when deciding what your budget should be as you begin your search for a house.

2. Located In A Good And Safe Neighborhood

One of the most important ways to narrow your search is to look for a house in a good neighborhood that’s safe. The surrounding area should always be well researched before you purchase any kind of property.

This is especially important if you're thinking about renting it out to tenants. As the property owner, your tenants’ safety will always be your number one priority, which is why you should take the time to find a good neighborhood. On top of the general safety of the tenants, having your investment property in a good neighborhood is overall more enticing to potential renters in the first place.

3. Has Proper Accommodations

Be sure you look for a place that has all of the proper accommodations that you or a possible renter would want in a house. This includes everything from having ample storage space to a sizable master bathroom and spacious open kitchen.

While this list can vary depending on your personal preferences, it’s also important to consider what tenants are looking for if you’re going to rent the property. In either case, it’s crucial to know everything a property has to offer before you buy the house.

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What To Look For In An Investment Property (2)

4. Is In Good Condition

When looking for an investment property it’s important to evaluate the current condition. As a potential real estate investor, you should always ensure the property is in good shape so that you have the best chance at making a solid profit from it.

Look for homes that are newer and look like they’ve been well-maintained over the years. Not only does this save you maintenance and repair costs down the road, but it’s a lot more enticing to potential renters or other buyers who you might sell to in the future. Renters or potential buyers aren’t going to want a run-down house that could eventually become a money pit due to wear-and-tear and poor upkeep. It’s much smarter to find an investment property in good condition that will actually be worth it in the long run.

However, the decision to purchase an old house versus a new onsure!e depends on what you plan to do with the property. If you’re looking to purchase an investment property to flip, you might actually be looking for one that isn’t in the best condition. In that case, it’s even more important to assess how much work you’ll have to do in order to restore the house to a livable condition. The same goes for fixer-upper properties as well.

5. Has Low Property Taxes

Another feature to look for when you’re checking out investment properties is to make sure the house has low property taxes. These taxes are set by local governments and are calculated by finding the assessed value of the home, deducting any exemptions you’d qualify for and then applying the municipality’s millage rate.

Since you’re using this property as an investment, you definitely don’t want to be paying a large amount of money in taxes on top of the additional costs that come with owning real estate.

Keep in mind, you can check out the property taxes by state to get a better idea of the best places to live that tend to have lower property taxes.

6. Is Easy To Maintain Over Time

If there’s one thing that will make owning an investment property simpler, it’s finding a home that’s easy to maintain. As you’re looking at property, take the time to assess what you would need to do on a regular basis to keep up with the maintenance of the home – especially if this is going to eventually become your primary residence. This includes everything from gardening to lawn care to other upkeep tasks depending on the age and condition of the home.

If you’re looking for a more low-maintenance type of investment property, a townhouse is a great option in order to avoid having a lot of outdoor upkeep tasks that can take up your time. Since the home shares two walls with other townhomes, there is significantly less for the owner to do outside on a regular basis. Other homes, like apartments or condos, will also have a lot less maintenance for owners to do on the exterior since property management companies will take care of that work.

How To Choose An Investment Property: FAQs

Let’s discuss some frequently asked questions around the topic of looking for investment properties and the qualities potential buyers should look for.

Where can I find an investment property?

There are a couple of different ways you can go about finding an investment property to purchase. You can, of course, do some looking on your own through various listing websites or other online auctions. Working with a real estate agent can also help you locate and choose the right investment property for you.

What should I avoid when looking for an investment property?

When looking for an investment property, be sure that it can make a profit over the long term. As an investment property, its most important trait is the ability to earn you some extra income for many years to come.

What makes a good investment property?

A good investment property should be located in a safe neighborhood, have the potential to make you a solid profit and be easy to maintain over time. Of course, this list can vary depending on your personal preferences and how you plan to use it.

Should I look for an investment property that I can rent out to tenants?

The decision to rent out your investment property is completely up to you and if you’re ready for the added responsibilities of becoming a landlord. If you go into the house hunting process knowing tenants will be living there – take that into account as you look for the right property.

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The Bottom Line

Finding an investment property that meets all of your criteria will take some time, but the payoff for your diligence can be rewarding. While buying property is always a big financial commitment, paying careful attention to the location, condition and necessary maintenance will help you decide if it’s a good investment.

Ready to purchase an investment property? Start the mortgage process today.

What To Look For In An Investment Property (2024)

FAQs

What is the 4 3 2 1 rule in real estate? ›

Analyzing the 4-3-2-1 Rule in Real Estate

This rule outlines the ideal financial outcomes for a rental property. It suggests that for every rental property, investors should aim for a minimum of 4 properties to achieve financial stability, 3 of those properties should be debt-free, generating consistent income.

How to tell if an investment property is a good deal? ›

It's called the 2% rule. This applies to any investment, and says that an investor will risk no more than 2% of their available capital on any single investment. In real estate, this means that a property is only a good investment if it will generate at least 2% of the property's purchase price each month in cash flow.

What is the 10 rule for investment properties? ›

The 10% rule is a quick and straightforward way for investors to evaluate the potential profitability of a real estate investment. It involves calculating the expected annual income from the property and ensuring it equals at least 10% of the property's purchase price.

How do you judge an investment property? ›

Here, we go over eight critical metrics that every real estate investor should be able to use to evaluate a property.
  1. Your Mortgage Payment. ...
  2. Down Payment Requirements. ...
  3. Rental Income to Qualify. ...
  4. Price to Income Ratio. ...
  5. Price to Rent Ratio. ...
  6. Gross Rental Yield. ...
  7. Capitalization Rate. ...
  8. Cash Flow.

What is the 80% rule in real estate? ›

What is the 80/20 Rule exactly? It's the idea that 80% of outcomes are driven from 20% of the input or effort in any given situation. What does this mean for a real estate professional? Making more money in real estate is directly tied to focusing your personal energy on the most high value areas of your business.

What is the 50% rule in real estate? ›

The 50% rule or 50 rule in real estate says that half of the gross income generated by a rental property should be allocated to operating expenses when determining profitability. The rule is designed to help investors avoid the mistake of underestimating expenses and overestimating profits.

What is a good ROI on rental property? ›

In general, a good ROI on rental properties is between 5-10% which compares to the average investment return from stocks. However, there are plenty of factors that affect ROI. A higher ROI often also comes with higher risks, so it's important to compare the reward with the risks.

What is a good cap rate for a rental property? ›

A “good” cap rate varies depending on the investor and the property. Generally, the higher the cap rate, the higher the risk and return. Market analysts say an ideal cap rate is between five and 10 percent; the exact number will depend on the property type and location.

How to avoid 20% down payment on investment property? ›

Yes, it is possible to purchase an investment property without paying a 20% down payment. By exploring alternative financing options such as seller financing or utilizing lines of credit or home equity through cash-out refinancing or HELOCs, you can reduce or eliminate the need for a large upfront payment.

What is the 1 rule for investment property? ›

The 1% rule of real estate investing measures the price of an investment property against the gross income it can generate. For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must equal at least 1% of the purchase price.

What is the golden rule of real estate investing? ›

It was during this period that Corcoran developed what she calls her "golden rule" of real estate investing. This rule calls for investors to put 20% down on properties and then get tenants whose rent payments cover the mortgage.

What is the 2 rule for investment properties? ›

What Is the 2% Rule in Real Estate? The 2% rule is a rule of thumb that determines how much rental income a property should theoretically be able to generate. Following the 2% rule, an investor can expect to realize a positive cash flow from a rental property if the monthly rent is at least 2% of the purchase price.

How to appraise an investment property? ›

5 unique ways to value a rental property
  1. Sales comparison. The sales comparison approach is used by appraisers and real estate agents to determine how much a home is worth by looking at recent comparable sales. ...
  2. Income approach. ...
  3. Cost approach. ...
  4. Gross rent multiplier. ...
  5. Capital asset pricing model.

What is a good rule of thumb for investment property? ›

The 2% rule states that the expected monthly rental income should equal or exceed 2% of the purchase price. Using the same example, a $200,000 rental property should generate a monthly rental income of at least $4,000.

What qualifies as an investment property? ›

An investment property is real estate property purchased with the intention of earning a return on the investment either through rental income, the future resale of the property, or both.

What is the 4-3-2-1 investment strategy? ›

The 4-3-2-1 Approach

One simple rule of thumb I tend to adopt is going by the 4-3-2-1 ratios to budgeting. This ratio allocates 40% of your income towards expenses, 30% towards housing, 20% towards savings and investments and 10% towards insurance.

What is the 7 rule in real estate? ›

In fact, in marketing, there is a rule that people need to hear your message 7 times before they start to see you as a service provider. Therefore, if you have only had a few conversations with the person that listed with someone else, then chances are, they don't even know you are in real estate.

What is the 100 10 3 1 rule? ›

Many real estate investors subscribe to the “100:10:3:1 rule” (or some variation of it): An investor must look at 100 properties to find 10 potential deals that can be profitable. From these 10 potential deals an investor will submit offers on 3. Of the 3 offers submitted, 1 will be accepted.

What is the 90 10 rule in real estate? ›

This concept shows that if you have 10 tasks that are 90% complete, you've essentially accomplished nothing. For some real estate professionals, this can be the crux of their business. It also may mean the difference between success and failure for them.

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