One popular belief is that investing in Real Estate is probably an easy means of earning profit. No doubt it's true to some extent. If you can buy a property with a decent amount of investment and equity share on it, you can also sell it for a good amount of profit and have a secured future.
But it is not always as easy as it seems. One of the main hindrances to this is the sharp learning curve for those who are just the beginners in this business. If you have not prepared yourself properly, you can incur huge loss in this highly complicated business and can lose money much faster than a 'stock market crash' irrespective of wherever your location is.
Hence to make it simple for you, you should consider the following things before starting on this venture. You need to devote some time before you start pouring money. You need to decide on the amount of profit you want to make in a pre-decided time frame. Be practical. It is always easier said than done, particularly in a market where the prices of the properties are always rising through past years and may continue to rise further. But you need to keep in mind that the prices may even fall in future and in that case, the drop happens very fast.
You should write down your target profit and the decided time frame to achieve it. Then prepare a business plan for a period of one to five years. Jot down the maximum details. Run through the plan in six months and then once more after about two years. You should include in this plan the capital you want to invest. The amount may vary based on whether you want to make your residence as your first investment or not.
With a good credit standing, you can always get a second property without any down payment but spending just a few thousands for closing. In that case, you would only make a profit if the prices increase very fast and you are able to sell the property immediately. But this involves a lot of risk including legal and tax burdens. The other option is get it for higher payments every month and incur some expenses on repairing it.
Your plan should also include the amount of risk you want to take. You need to be honest and thoughtful about your type of personality as well. Depending on your risk taking ability, you need to decide whether you want to preserve your capital or earn the maximum return as quickly as you can. You should consider how much time you can devote and talk to a lender for your financial requirements. You also need to learn more about the real estate market and its intricacies including your legal rights and necessities, contracts, taxes, insurance and other related features.
If you are still prepared to start with the business, great! You can indeed earn a handsome income or can also make it your full time occupation by making smart investment. Also it is not only about earning money but also a remarkable adventure.