by Barker Realty, Inc. | Jul 20, 2018 | Property Management Blog, Raleigh Investment Property, Taxes & Financing, Tips for Property Investors
It is important for rental property owners to know and understand how to manage cash flow. Cash flow is an important item in your budget that allows you to project income over the year. As an investment property owner you may find out your profit is 8% after expenses when it should be, say 10%. As an investor, you may come to a conclusion that a particular property will not be profitable, and it may be better to invest money elsewhere. Your cash flow creates opportunities as well as explained below.
Investors who are looking to refinance or sell a property also need to have a consistent stream of income. Properties that have a strong cash flow are more attractive to investors. Buyers may ask to see a rent roll in order to confirm that the rent has been consistently paid showing properties are in good standing and helps build investor confidence.
If you have a larger property, then a dip in cash flow may not hurt you much. They usually have enough income coming into to deal with dips. However, it can be difficult to manage cash flow at a single rental property versus a portfolio with multiple properties as dips are harder to take and overcome.
Our team at Barker Realty helps our property managers and also our clients who invest in properties work to understand and maximize cash flow for each and every property.
Reduce the Impact of Vacancies
You will likely have vacancies at some point. You can reduce the impact of vacancies by including a marginal vacancy rate in your budget. If you do not have a vacancy, then you will be able to offset unexpected costs.
Stagger Lease Expirations
Many property managers are tempted to have all of their leases on the same schedule. However, this may cause a cash flow problem if people move out, and their unit is not re-rented. Change the dates so that you are not hit with multiple vacancies at one time.
Review Your Contracts
If it has been a long time since you reviewed your property management contracts, then now is the time to do so. Have your insurance premiums increased? Is it time to refinance? Is your mortgage interest rate competitive with other rates? Are you getting the best rate for your service? Those are some of the key questions you need to ask yourself.
All recurring expenses you have should be evaluated in order to determine if you are getting the best rates. You will be able to increase your cash flow by reducing your monthly costs and our team of investment property managers in Apex is ready to help. Contact us today for more information or to schedule a meeting!
by Barker Realty, Inc. | Jun 22, 2018 | Apex Investment Property, Apex Property Management, Featured Article, Taxes & Financing, Tips for Property Investors
This is the age old question!
Rental property management can be a lucrative profession and we get asked this question all the time. It is easy for you to make money from rental properties, but that all hinges on many factors to determine how much money you can make renting your property in Raleigh.
Calculate Your Income
The first thing that you will need to do is calculate your monthly income. You do this by multiplying the monthly rent by the number of houses or apartments that are being rented. For example, you charge $1,000 in rent and you own 3 properties, you will bring in $3,000 per month from the rent.
Calculate Your Expenses
You will have to calculate your expenses in order to make money from rental properties. Insurance, taxes, mortgage payments and a management fee to your management company are some of the expenses that you will have to take into consideration. You will also have to consider the cost of maintenance and other expenses, such as utilities and landscaping while vacant, capital improvements needed over the years, etc. Additionally, if you are a member of the HOA, then you will have to include those fees as well.
Total the Results
The money that you have left over, after you cover all of your expenses, will be your profit. Ideally, you should not only have enough money to cover your costs, but you should also have money left over that can come back to you directly to reinvest or save. If your expenses are making it difficult for you to make ends meet, then you may have to raise the price of the rent or find ways to trim your expenses. For example, you may want to shop around for a different insurance provider or other contractors potentially hired to help with upkeep on your property.
If you are looking for a Raleigh property management company that can handle your investment properties or you just want to speak with someone about your potential opportunity to rent your home or condo or building, then give our Raleigh property managers a call today.
by Barker Realty, Inc. | Sep 27, 2017 | Investment Property Blog, Taxes & Financing, Tips for Landlords, Tips for Property Investors
Real estate can be a powerful investment. Buy the right home, and you can rent it out to other families and individuals throughout the years, earning a hefty monthly income as you do. Of course, buying your first home for rent might not be as simple as it seems on the surface. There are a lot of legalities and other concerns to think about, so if you want to make sure that you stay ahead of the curve, then you’re going to need some help from a specialist.
If you want to discover the possibilities of buying a house to rent out, but you want to keep the stress factor to an absolute minimum, the following tips could help.
- Get the Right Advice and Do Your Research
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself when you’re thinking of buying a house to rent out is getting the insight and support of a professional team. The right property management team can not only give you advice on what you need to do as a landlord, but they can also take a lot of the hard work of owning an investment property off your plate.
At the same time, remember to do your own research too. Take courses where you can, read books on investment and talk to other people who have spent some time exploring the market. The more you know about real estate investment, the more confident you will feel when you start your new venture. Just as you wouldn’t move into a new house without help from a professional moving team like our friends at Bellhops Moving Raleigh, you shouldn’t start your venture without insights from specialists.
- Know What to Buy
Once you’ve got the right experts by your side, it’s important to think about how you can get the best house for your future. After all, you want a home that’s going to attract a whole host of potential renters, but you may have to make some compromises if you want to keep your initial investments low. The key is to figure out what you can compromise on. For instance, having to powerwash your home before you sell it is no problem, but if you’ll have to rebuild a roof before you can put the space on the market, then that’s something else entirely.
Check the structural integrity of the home carefully when you’re looking for a bargain, and remember that location is often more important than how a home looks when it comes to attracting renters. Ensure that the neighborhood has plenty of things that appeal to a wide audience.
- Make Sure You Have the Right Finances
Finally, reducing the stress of investing in a home to rent means making sure that you have a good idea of all the finances that you’ll need to deal with, including estimating repairs and other important maintenance costs. Remember that the mortgage cost is only one of the expenses that you’ll need to consider, even if it is your largest outlay. You’ll also need to consider things like repair and maintenance costs too.
Buying your first investment property isn’t always easy, but the more prepared you are from day one, the more comfortable the process should be.
by Barker Realty, Inc. | Nov 22, 2016 | Barker Realty, Company News, Property Management Company, Taxes & Financing
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