1. Research And Analyze
Do your own research and analyze the real estate market before you invest your money in a property. Check out a lot of properties, up to 100, in the location you’re thinking of, and be sure to take some notes. Make sure to include information like prices, projected rent and budgets for repairs. You can use this information to figure out which investments would be good and which ones would not.

2. Think About Your Time

If you’re considering real estate investing, you should contemplate the amount of time you can apply to managing your investment. Tenant problems can be extremely time consuming. If you don’t have ample time to manage, consider hiring a property manager to do it for you.

3. Location, Location, Location

Choose something that has the potential to increase in value. Something by the shore or located in a highly trafficked city is bound to increase in value. Take all factors into consideration when projecting rises in property value.

4. Home Improvements

When doing a home improvement that requires digging, call to see if buried lines are present. Some areas require you to call before digging.

5. Too Good? Check It Out

Don’t purchase real estate that is in a less than desirable neighborhood. Pay close attention to where your property is located. Research it thoroughly through newspapers and word of mouth. If the deal is too good, it might be in an area with high crime. It can be hard to sell this kind of home and this type of home could be vandalized easily.

6. Return On Investment

Make certain you’re going to get back your investment, and then some. If you’re only breaking even, you’re wasting valuable time. Make improvements to the property and list it at a substantial markup.

7. Don’t Use Emergency Funds

Your investments should never tap into your emergency funds. When you invest in real estate, there will frequently be large amounts of money you can’t access for a significant period of time. It may take you years before you start seeing a real profit. You do not want your investment property to put your personal life in a pinch.

8. Avoid Over-Leveraging

Avoid over-leveraging yourself when moving on to a new real estate deal. Always make sure you have reserve cash in case something happens that you do not expect. If you don’t think about these things, it could have devastating consequences.

9. Stay WithIn Your Means

Stay away from investing in properties that are beyond your means. If you choose to rent out your property, be sure you’re able to handle your mortgage payments every month, even if a few units are vacant. It is not wise to place dependence on the rental income to cover the mortgage costs.