The 5 Biggest Mistakes Real Estate Investors Make

Posted: Aug 21, 2010 |
Real estate investors are a very special group of people. They are motivated, driven, and very willing to take risks. However, they are human beings. That means even the most brilliant of real estate investors can make mistakes. From the past performances of scores of people involved in real estate, we can see several often repeated mistakes. Here are five of the most common:

Paying too much for property. This is one of the worst mistakes a real estate investor makes because it can automatically turn an investment into a loss. The simple math is as follows: if you pay $400,000 for a home worth only $200,000 and the equity increases by 90%, you would still lose $20,000 on the deal. And here is some news: the property probably isn't going to increase in equity by 90% unless you discover oil on the property! In all seriousness, paying too much for a property undermines the profitability of an investment.

In a similar vein, some might fall into the trap of "over fixing" a property. If you invest too much in fixing up the property, you cut into the profits on the resale. As such, it is necessary to avoid going over budget on the rehab of the home(s).

Not effectively determining the real estate taxes. Imagine getting a great deal. You purchase a $200,000 home for $100,000. The real estate taxes are 8% and you figure you can afford it if you watch your budget. But, it turns out the real estate tax is not $8,000 but $16,000 because real estate tax is based on the VALUE of the home and not the purchase price of the home. This is a stunning oversight many people will make to their detriment.

Purchasing a property without performing professional inspections. Unless you are a professional appraiser or assessor, don't try to ascertain the presence or extent of any damage. Often, damage can be more expansive than you realize. As a result, you will need a trained eye in order to understand the extent of the damage. Actually, you will need a trained eye to determine if any actual damage is present. Sometimes, a property may visually look to be in good condition but is really falling apart. So, if you lack training in assessing damage, don't try to make the assessments!

Not examining the "convenience factor" of a property. People look for convenience when they purchase a home. If the property you buy is quite far from local stores, highways, or schools, you may find it tough to find a buyer. That means you may need to make the property more attractive by dropping the price. In some extreme situations, you may have to drop the price to levels of a loss just to get rid of it. Now, who wants to see their investment turn out that way?

Purchasing property that you never physically visited. Oh, this mistake is a lot more common than you realize! People have been taken in by purchasing properties in distant regions based solely on advertising. Please don't make such an over the top mistake. It always turns out to be a disaster!

Here is some good news if you do end up making a mistake: as smart real estate investors we can bounce back from any mistake. As such, if you make an error in judgment and it leads to a poor investment decision, you just need to lick your wounds, bite the bullet and move onto a better investment decision in the future.

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