Forecasters predict a challenging year for commercial property owners. Despite this, the California Bay area remains a promising prospect for astute property investors.
A rental analysis is a vital part of your purchase decision when you're considering investing in real estate. It's also a vital tool for improving your competitiveness in the current real estate rental market.
Read more to find out how this process can help you.
Location Always Impacts Real Estate
Before you start your search for a profitable investment property, you must decide which geographical areas to focus on. Prime properties offer easy access to suppliers, transport infrastructure, and consumers.
They're located in areas with low crime rates and low vacancy rates. These ideally located properties come with a premium price tag, but they also have the potential to attract more tenants willing to pay higher rentals.
You must analyze these properties by comparing the higher mortgage expenses with the expected rental income over the same time frame.
You may find cheaper properties in up-and-coming areas. These are sure to increase in value as the neighborhood grows.
A real estate expert can help you pinpoint these locations.
Calculate Associated Costs
When you've found a few properties you like, you need to do the math regarding profitability. Write down all the costs involved in purchasing and maintaining the property.
These include:
- Monthly mortgage payments
- Property Taxes
- Cleaning and maintenance
- Legal and administration fees
- Utilities
If you need to improve the infrastructure of the building, you must include those costs, too.
Keep this monthly expenditure in mind when you move on to the next step, as it directly affects your profits.
Consider Potential Rental Income
In an ideal world, setting rental rates would involve little more than advertising a rate that covers your expenses plus a handsome profit. In reality, you can only charge what the market will bear.
If you set your rental too high, you'll have difficulty finding tenants. Too low, and you'll lose money on your investment.
The best method for assessing rental value is by comparing the property to others nearby. Look for properties with similar characteristics and find out how much rent the tenants are paying there.
Make sure you're comparing apples to apples when it comes to amenities, location, age of the building, and size. Once you've got an idea of what you can charge, you need to compare this with your costs to determine profitability.
Careful renovations or improvements, like smart heating and cooling or solar, mean you can increase your rental without incurring exorbitant extra costs. These upgrades can also enhance the appeal of your building and increase its value.
Get a Rental Analysis Now
As a new landlord, it's difficult to trust your judgment when it comes to assessing a rental property's potential.
Blue Line Property Management has decades of experience in the realm of buying, managing, and selling commercial properties. We offer a full portfolio of tools to help ensure your success in a challenging real estate environment.
Reach out for assistance with compiling a detailed and effective rental analysis for your prospective California Bay property.
