Investing in local property is always better than buying real estate from areas you are unfamiliar with. The biggest advantage you have as a local real estate investor is that you know the neighbourhood. You can tell the bad blocks apart from the good ones, and that’s very important when it comes to real estate investment. You may also know the history of a certain property. Knowledge such as this is important to succeed in the real estate market.
However, there are also other factors that you should consider as a local real estate investor or developer. Knowing a property is important, but that’s not all there is to this industry. Read ahead to find out several helpful tips regarding succeeding as a local property owner:
Don’t Ignore Possible Tax Benefits
Most property investors hope to benefit from lucrative tax deduction allowed by the state. You too can benefit from these locally. Getting a tax deduction on a new property is similar to getting deductions on the home you live in. However, different rules may apply depending on the type of property and its age. You should hire a good professional locally, a quantity surveyor Melbourne for example, and get an accurate calculation on how much you can get. There are professional agencies that specialise in getting tax deductions on various properties. If you are unfamiliar with these, you should hire an expert.
Don’t Overestimate Your Knowledge
As mentioned before, knowledge of the local area that you live in can be a great asset to succeeding as a local proprietor. However, do not overestimate your ability to know a property in and out just because you have lived in the same area for years. The things you think you know about a property can be dead wrong. In local neighbourhoods, rumours often take precedence over the truth. Therefore, do not neglect to do the traditional research when it comes to knowing a property before buying it. Do check the tax filings and title deeds without hesitation. Consider your prior knowledge of the property as a complementary asset to conventional real estate research. Do not rely entirely on it.
Have an Outside Opinion
Sometimes we may overvalue a property if we have an emotional attachment to the area. Emotions should not play a role in property investment. Therefore, if you think your emotions might be influencing a purchase decision, ask an outsider to evaluate the property. You will get an additional opinion not influenced by local bias. This type of outsider evaluation is important if you are going to spend a lot of money on a property. Don’t make big decisions without considering all the aspects.
Don’t Use Old Friendships to Motivate a Reluctant Seller
In the real estate investment business, it’s general knowledge that realtors should not force hesitant owners to sell. When you are working locally, you might be able to use a relationship to your advantage and force a reluctant seller to hand over a property to you. Don’t do this. The deal could end badly and haunt the sale for years to come. So, even if you are buying locally, only buy from motivated sellers.
Being a local real estate investor has its advantages and disadvantages. If you follow the above tips, you will have the advantages on your side.