Rates And Investment Properties
Investing in real estate, huh? All the infomercials finally gave
you the bug, didn't it? Surely if all those funny-looking people
sitting on a beach chair flashing fake $100 dollar bills can make
money in real estate then you can too, right? But this week's column
isn't about touting a proven method for investing in real estate.
It's about if you're thinking of buying investment property then
why you should do it now and not wait for your "How To Get
Rich in Real Estate" cassette tapes to arrive in the mail.
Why?
We're all aware of rock bottom rates. It's hard not to notice when
nearly every other spam you get is wanting to refinance your mortgage.
Is it getting all a little too redundant to read something like
"Interest Rates at Historic Lows?" How many times can
we make history, anyway? The problem with such headlines is that
soon we become somewhat immune to the news. Low rates, yeah, what
else is new?
But let me remind you of something. Way, way back, say two years
ago, rates were in fact about 2% higher than where they are now.
That can mean more than just a small difference in payment. It can
mean whether or not your rental unit will ever cash flow and how
much real estate you can buy.
Let's look at an example of a rental property selling for $180,000.
It's rented, always has been. Great tenants. Shoot, the tenants
even mow the yard and do minor repairs themselves. Property is immaculate.
It's a nice little house and rent in the area for similar properties
goes for about $1,500 per month. Now let's do some math.
A 30 year fixed rate in January of 2001 of 7.50% (yes, rates were
very high back then) on a $150,000 note gets you a mortgage payment
of $1,050 per month. You're showing a gross monthly profit of $450.
Factor in hazard insurance and property taxes each month and maybe
you're walking away with a couple of hundred bucks. Remember, these
tenants do all the repairs and never complain.
Fast forward to today. A competitive investment rate could be found
at 5.75%, the monthly mortgage payment drops to $878. This nearly
doubles your net income. And this is a fixed rate for as long as
you own the property. It will never change unless you tell it to.
Lets' look at it another way. Instead of looking at that cute little
house on the corner, you spotted a duplex closer to the college
campus. A 2% increase in interest rate erodes your buying power.
How much? By nearly 20%, that's how much. If you can afford a $250,000
loan today and rates go back up to 2000 levels, you may only qualify
for a $200,000 loan. That's huge. And that difference is something
no Real Estate Investing Seminar can ever change.
Article continued at http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20030418_investment.htm
Rates and Investment Properties Resources:
The Las Vegas Home Agent -
Las Vegas Real Estate- Hundreds of Pages to Help Buyers, Sellers and Investors Make the Right Choice in Las Vegas. Free consultations. Las Vegas real estate news, Las Vegas taxes, Las Vegas high rises, Investing in Las Vegas Real Estate and more.
California home loan rate & home loan refinance rate -
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