Before embarking on a new and potentially risky venture, you must be adequately prepared. You wouldn’t go on a long trip without packing a suitcase! And the most experienced travelers know that a checklist ensures all the essentials get packed.

In the same way, real estate investors must prepare before they start their investment journey. It’s all too easy for inexperienced investors to get in over their heads. It takes solid preparation to set the stage for success – do you know what you need to do?

Never fear – we’re here to give you the definitive checklist for preparing for your first real estate investment.

We’ve all heard, “Cash is king.” The phrase was coined in 1980 by author George N. McLean as a business maxim: “Avoid credit, remembering that cash is king, credit is a slave.” The phrase reemerged and grew in popularity with the 1987 stock market crash. We’ve seen plenty of professionals and investors hold to this philosophy since.

New construction is divisive in the world of real estate, whether you’re an investor or a traditional homebuyer. Some are attracted to the totally turnkey nature of new builds. Others are skeptical of the quality of modern construction and developing markets.

We get it – houses are expensive, now more than ever. It’s only natural that investors would turn to low-cost properties. On the surface, there’s clear appeal: less capital upfront for an income-generating rental property. Why wouldn’t you go with the cheapest houses you can find?

If you’re like many people, you like to browse real estate listings. Sometimes, you come across a property with a shockingly low price tag in a great part of town. You might think, “Wow! What a deal!” Then, you start looking at the pictures and realize that the whole thing has been stripped down to the studs, and it would take double the asking price or more to get it habitable. Oof. 

That opportunity might excite some more hands-on, flip-minded investors, but it’s not for us. At that point, it’s pretty evident that the property will cost you far more than the seemingly low asking price. But it’s not always so obvious. Some properties may not look the best – they’re serviceable – or be in the best neighborhood, but they’re affordable, so why not?

Well, we’re here to tell you. Here’s why investors shouldn’t target low-cost properties.

With the market favoring selling so thoroughly, you might consider selling one or more of your investment properties. After all, it seems like a prime opportunity! But before you prepare that listing, wait. There are compelling reasons to hold your properties for the long haul – even when conditions make selling an attractive prospect.

How do you know whether or not a property would make a good investment? In today’s real estate climate, opportunities come and go in a flash. Investors must be able to quickly evaluate whether or not any given property would make a good investment – not just in general, but for their specific, unique portfolio.

We all want to enjoy retirement. In this day and age, achieving financial security in our golden years is more challenging than ever. Statistics paint a picture of retirement realities. American workers have saved a median $97,000 for retirement. Compare that to the standard goal for a “comfortable” retirement, $1.4 million.

Building a real estate investment empire isn’t about owning the most properties, charging the highest rates, or investing in the most luxurious markets. Success as an SFR investor comes through a high level of service and consistency. Your greatest asset apart from your properties is the people inhabiting them.

By now, you’re aware that the team behind The Grind stresses the importance of excellent property management. A great management team is your best defense in this business. They’re the ones who make sure everything runs smoothly for the entire lifespan of your rental property.

What makes an investment property ideal? What makes it a dud? There’s certainly a science to it, no doubt — there are factors that will set your property up to be a passive income powerhouse, while other things may turn it into a money sink.

Seasoned investors no doubt know these factors like the back of their hands, but new investors may struggle to properly evaluate a property. Even those with experience may make the wrong call once in a blue moon, because you can’t always predict people.  The factors that make a particular property good can vary as well and they can change.