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10 Costly Mistakes to Avoid as a New Real Estate Investor<br />

Do some on-the-ground research. Driving around is fine, but to thoroughly<br />

get a feel for the area, you’ve got to explore by foot. Go in local stores and<br />

restaurants and talk with the managers about what it’s like to do business in<br />

the community and/or live there. Call your friends or other people you know<br />

who live or work nearby and get their thoughts on the area. You’ll be<br />

surprised how much people will tell you. Hit the city hall and find out if<br />

there’s any development going on in the community. Understanding local<br />

development plans, and if people and businesses are moving in our out of<br />

town, can give you a gut check on the current property inventory that exists<br />

and the future market potential.<br />

Run a sales comparison. Before you even work with a real estate broker, you<br />

can find out what properties have recently sold in the area that match up with<br />

the size and amenities of the property you’re considering buying. A simple<br />

internet search will allow you to pull up sold properties within a particular<br />

city. You can also ask your real estate broker to produce a list of more<br />

specific, comparable properties in the area. Knowing how much an<br />

investment property is worth will help you gauge its value and determine<br />

potential growth.<br />

Learn market rents. If you’re going to rent out a residential property, know<br />

the true rent potential before you buy it. Your real estate broker can help<br />

identify this information, as well as provide comparable sales data. For more<br />

information on determining the financial implications of renting out an<br />

investment property, research the area rental amount average.<br />

Check out the local county recorder’s office for the deed and mortgage<br />

history. Find out the current mortgage and last sale price of your target<br />

property, and see if there are any liens on the property. These are all public<br />

records, most of which can be found online. Knowing this information will<br />

help you understand your negotiation boundaries for buying the property,<br />

and the price the sellers will be willing to accept.<br />

19<br />

10 Costly Mistakes to Avoid as a New Real Estate Investor

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