How much rental income should I make as an investor? This is possibly the most asked questions that new investors ask. The answer to that question is, there is no magic number. Every investor, every property, and every investment strategy is different. This article contains a few guidelines to help you determine how much profit to expect from private rental properties.
There are as many reasons to become an investor as there are properties. Some investors are looking to earn a little extra income by investing. Others are counting on it for their day-to-day living, to help fund college and retirement funds, and to live a comfortable lifestyle. Regardless of how much you need to make, earning money on investment properties takes some time and work in the beginning before it truly feels like passive income. It’s not a “get rich quick” scheme, by any means.
Focus On Cash Flow – Not Appreciation
When you’re trying to determine how much profit you’ll make on a particular property, focus on cash flow, not appreciation. Relying on appreciation is risky because you can never be sure that home prices are going to increase. In certain cases, your investment property might actually decrease in value. Focusing on cash flow is a smarter way to determine how much money you’ll be putting into a property, and in turn how much you’ll be getting out of it.
Find The Right Property for your personal portfolio
Research to find out the best areas in which to invest in rental property. Study the neighborhood market, don’t skip the home inspection and keep an eye out for homes that are under market value. These are the first steps in earning a profit from your investment. Once you have narrowed your search to a few specific areas, choose the one that works best for you. Some investors like to invest in their immediate area as it makes it easier to keep an eye on it or because they already feel comfortable with the area. After all, they chose to live there. Others want their investment properties to be as far away from their personal homes as possible. Others simply want the best return on their investment and honestly don’t care if their investment properties are close to their own neighborhood or not.
Investing in the Birmingham Area
While we can’t speak for the rest of the country, we know a thing or two about investing in the Birmingham area. In Birmingham currently, a B+ and A- property equals to about a 6.5% to 7% cap rate to hit and maybe a 12% cash on cash return. You’ll still hit somewhere in the 16% to 18% cash on cash return, maybe like 8.5% cap rate in the C+ and B- type product. (These property scores are explained near the end of this article). Imagine the passive income you could earn if you owned multiple rental properties! Another great thing about real estate investing, and turnkey especially is that you don’t have to live locally to take advantage of the hot market. Even if you don’t live in the Birmingham area, you can still take advantage of the deals. Birmingham is a hot spot for homes that are below market value that generate a significant ROI (Return on Investment)
Location
Real estate investing is all about location. A common misconception about investing is that you need to invest in an area close to where you live. This isn’t always the case. In fact, properties in the B- and C+ categories are in what pros consider the “sweet spot”. The sweet spot is a vibrant market that offers properties that are affordable to the majority of buyers in the area. These are the areas where you are most likely to get the most effective returns. So how do you know if the property you’re investing in falls into the sweet spot?
B Class Properties typically:
- Are older than A class properties
- Tend to have lower rental rates than A class properties
- Are seen as “value-add” properties by investors
- Can be acquired at higher Cap rates than A class properties
- Are close to schools and amenities
- Has a good overall feel, but just needs some updates
C Class Properties typically
- Are located further away from schools and amenities
- Are older than 20 years
- Need quite a bit of TLC to compete with other property classes
Although B and C class properties may seem like they need a little work, they’re considered the sweet spot for a reason. These homes are appealing to middle-income renters and can easily be upgraded to a higher property class usually with just a few upgrades.
Property Management And Profit
Many investors are busy professionals who don’t have the time in their schedules to do everything required for a successful investment. Researching rental properties for sale, the acquisition of tenants, the rehab, the property repairs and maintenance, and the collection of rent checks and the overall understanding of how to manage rental property all require time and effort that most investors just don’t have. This is why many investors start interviewing rental property management companies to help them handle the day-to-day tasks related to their investment property. While some investors see the management company as an additional expense, we see it a little differently. A competent and professional management company can anticipate issues before they arise and solve them quickly. They can handle tenant issues effectively. A successful property management company is well worth the fee you pay them if they are keeping an eye on the property, making sure tenants are happy, collecting rent, and performing routine maintenance to ensure the property is performing at it’s best.
The main goal of investing is to earn money. If you’re not earning a profit, what’s the point? Many investors have made millions investing in real estate, and you can too. But it doesn’t happen overnight, and you have to be willing to work for it. By following these guidelines, you can be on your way to successful investing that generates significant returns and changes not only your life but your legacy as well.
