Investing in stocks, online gambling, and small businesses are great ways to make money, but you can also turn a profit with real estate. Here are the steps to understand what's involved in locating and purchasing your first apartment building.
go online to one of the free credit reporting sites on the internet and run your credit report and credit scores. Lenders expect to see borrowers with a good credit rating. If any negative items appear on your credit, make every effort to clear up these items in advance. If you have experienced past problems, be ready to explain these problems in a well written letter of explanation.
Make sure you find a real estate agent that specializes in apartment buildings. Most agents that sell homes for a living have no experience selling apartment properties. As a first timer, you need an agent that can help you through the details, as a commercial investment is much different than buying a home. The agent should understand which neighborhoods are on the rise and which neighborhoods to avoid.
It is crucial that you obtain complete financial records on the property. Do not rely on verbal statements. You need to verify all income by looking at the leases and all expenses by looking at actual bills. Most sellers overstate the income and understate the expenses. Do your homework carefully.
Do not consider making an offer until you inspect the interior and exterior of the property carefully. Is the property in good repair? Is there any deferred maintenance? Are the units actually occupied or is there apparent vacancy? Is the neighborhood relatively safe and free of crime? Are there other buildings in the nearby area that are in disrepair or suffering from high vacancy?
Don’t be fooled by a high asking price. Calculate the gross income and subtract expenses to come up with a net operating income. The NOI needs to be adequate to cover a proposed mortgage, as well as, return a profit to the owner. If the numbers don’t work, keep shopping.
a commercial mortgage broker specializes in financing investment properties and will understand all of the nuances of a commercial mortgage loan. It is crucial that you find a broker who is competent and experienced. As a first-time buyer, the advice you receive will be invaluable. A good broker will make sure you offer a fair price and do not overpay. He will understand the market and negotiate the best terms available for your particular needs.
Many investment opportunities are not fairly priced. Do not make the mistake of falling in love with a property. This is an investment and you need to remember that the goal is to make a profit. If the property does not make sense, move on and keep shopping. Your commercial mortgage broker will assist you in this regard.
Stephen A. Sobin is the President and Founder of Select Commercial Funding LLC. Mr. Sobin has over 30 years’ experience in commercial real estate lending. In 1981, he founded State-Wide Capital Corp., one of the leading home equity loan providers in the country. The company was well known through its extensive television, radio and newspaper advertisements promoting its 1-800-DIAL-CASH phone number. In 1995, Mr. Sobin sold State-Wide Capital to Superior Bank FSB, a federal savings bank headquartered in Illinois. Mr. Sobin remained with Superior until 1997 as the President of a mortgage lending division of the bank.