Managing your Finances for Buying Your First Rental Property | Supedium (2024)

Everyone thinks differently. By “investment,” what pops into the mind of many are savings, trading, or something else. Some people are willing to become landlords and buy a rental property to have a passive income and generally a cash flow if something happens to their regular job.

It doesn’t come easy, and you should consider several facts before you jump into it. Here are some of the things you need to think about now, and you will have to later if you become a landlord.

Can you handle it?

It isn’t enough to buy a rental property. You need to have social skills and know which person is the right candidate for the apartment. Do you want to rent space for living or working space? What you decide might influence how much you will have to invest in the building before renting it. While we are at investments, we hope you have an investment plan or started building one since going blindly to buying a rental property is never a good choice. Make sure to pay out any debt you have before investing in something else. While this isn’t necessary, it’s advisable since you might end up piling more debt on top of your spending. That’s why you will need to see if your return from the rental space is more significant than your debt cost. In any case, if you are still paying a student loan or have medical bills that are long overdue, it’s not a good move to buy a property right now.

Finding a suitable location

Finding a good location is one of the most important things you will need to research when buying a property. Is the area you are interested in getting more popular, or people tend to move away as soon as they can? If there’s a growing population, there’s an excellent opportunity for investing. It’s recommended to look for an area where fees aren’t too high, decent schools, shopping malls, etc. Basic things that make everyone’s life easier.

Do you need a team?

Consider you might need helpers if you buy a rental property. We mentioned briefly at the beginning you will need to think about if you know how to fix things, etc. Are you willing to go to the place every time something happens to a renter’s home? Do you live close enough, and do you have the time? If not, you will have to find a good plumber, electrician, and more so you can always have someone to call as soon as anything happens. Your money will go there as well.

High risks and Margins

The interest rate for an investment property is much higher than it is for the usual mortgage rate, so make sure to check every detail around it. Pay attention if someone wants to use you or discriminate against you even though you have everything needed to buy a property. It’s against the law to discriminate based on sex, religion, race, etc., so don’t let it slip if you know you can get it. The margin of safety is important, and general advice for individuals is to set a 10% return margin. Naturally, get into it a lot deeper and talk to professionals to see the best moves you can make based on your finances.

Insurance and obligations

As an owner of rental property, investing in landlord insurance is the best way to protect yourself from various mishaps such as unpaid rent, property damage, and liability reasons. Landlord-tenant law is different in every state, so get familiar with the law in yours. While tenants should be respectful and sign the papers, you also need to know your renters’ obligations. If you want to be a righteous landlord, you should respect fair housing rules, know the renter’s rights and role in security deposits, and much more.

In the end

Put on paper all pros and cons of buying a rental property and see if it’s for you or not. While it might be a good idea, and it can bring you secure income, you need to know if you are ready for such a commitment and have enough resources for one. Good luck!