The idea that real estate makes for a safe and lucrative investment is one that has stayed with the public, whether they work in real estate or not, for decades now. Owning property and making money from it is something that many people strive to do, but it’s not quite as easy as you might think, and there are several challenges that first-time real estate investors are sure to come up against. 

 

If you’re interested in making a start in this sector and are willing to stay in it for the long term (the only real way to make money in real estate), it’s important to know what these challenges are so that you can get over them quickly. Read on to find out more.  

 

Choosing The Right Property 

The first challenge that any real estate investor is going to come across is choosing the right property. Or rather, the correct type of property. Real estate isn’t just about domestic homes such as apartments and houses; there is also the option of commercial real estate which can be just as money-making when done right. 

 

It’s important to know what you’re looking for before you begin, especially as you will probably want to borrow money to make this investment. The bank or lender needs to know what you intend to do with that money, and making the right choice when it comes to your property is crucial; it will help the lender make their decision. 

 

Preparing The Property For Tenants 

It’s all very well to buy a property and then start looking for tenants, but if you intend to rent the house or apartment or commercial unit out, there are some things you’ll need to do first, and preparing the property for tenants is another challenge first-time real estate investors are going to come up against. 

 

There is a fine line that has to be drawn between doing enough and doing too much. You don’t want to spend more money than you have to, but equally, you may well need to spend some money to ensure that the place is habitable and that people will want to rent it. Otherwise, you will have bought the property for nothing. Whether it’s kitchen renovations, a new bathroom, or you just need to tidy things up with a coat of paint, the property must look good to attract tenants quickly. 

 

Managing The Property 

Once you have found the right property and ensured that it is ready for tenants to move into, you’ll need to think about managing the property. As a landlord and real estate investor, property management is what will ensure you can make the most of your investment – the better managed it is, the longer your tenants will stay, and the less time your property will be empty. 

 

With this in mind, if you are not confident about managing the property yourself, you’ll need to decide about who you should be using. There are many professional property management companies who can assist, and finding the right one before your tenants move in is a very important step to complete.