Investing Strategy - Quick Turn Properties

If you are thinking about starting a career in real estate investing, then you may looking at "quick turn" sales as part of your overall investment strategy. Quick turn sales are attractive to many investors, because they offer the potential to make a large profit in a relatively short period of time. However, it's important to understand the risks of quick turn sales, as well as the rewards.

Quick turns can provide substantial profits if you take the time to properly research the homes you are interested in buying. You will want to look at comparable homes for sale in the area, to determine the best price for your property. If you exercise patience and persistence, you can purchase properties below market value, so you can sell them for a profit.

There are several risks involved with a quick turn real estate investing strategy as well. First, you may incur unexpected repair and renovation expenses after purchasing the property. You can make a reasonable estimate of these expenses by walking through the home and looking for the cosmetic items as well as purchasing a home inspection. Yet, even with these reports, often times you find that there are items that go above and beyond your initial budget once you start the project. We recommend that you build in a financial cushion for surprise expenses when determining if an investment will likely be profitable. Typically, we suggest 10 -15% of the overall initial cost just to be on the safe side. If not needed, you have only enhanced your overall profit.

Another risk is that you may be unable to sell the home quickly after repairs and renovations have been completed. Even the perfect home can sit on the market for months, and you will be responsible for mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and other expenses until the property is sold. You should have an alternate plan, such as renting the home to tenants, in case the home does not sell as quickly as you had hoped. So you might want to establish a relationship with a property management company or be prepared to become a landlord.

You might also want to consider the tax implications of this investment strategy. When you purchase and sell the property in less than 12 month's, the IRS looks at the profit you make from the sale as ordinary income. This will mean that all the profit from the sale will be taxed as your normal tax bracket. So if you make $50,000 profit, your tax will most likely eat almost 40 to 50% of that, but the time you calculate your federal & state tax rate.

It may be possible to accurately assess these risks yourself when evaluating and purchasing investment properties. However, you can save yourself quite a bit of time and expense by hiring a REALTOR® to help you navigate the quick turn process. An experienced REALTOR® who is a seasoned investor themselves, will help you find properties that will make profitable investments, and help you sell the home as quickly as possible once your repairs and updates have been completed. Not all real estate agents understand investing, so we highly recommend that you interview thoroughly to make sure the agent you have selected can provide you with accurate information and assistance.