HOW TO INVEST IN RENTAL REAL ESTATE
By : Tim Marais
INTRODUCTION 
Investing in rental real estate can provide you with a steady stream of income that becomes almost all profit after the property is paid for. However, getting to that point is risky and requires much more work than it seems like it does. Investing in real estate will require you to choose a great property and then maintain than property, and deal with its tenants, indefinitely or until you are making enough to hire a manager.
HOW TO INVEST IN RENTAL REAL ESTATE Assess your ability to manage the property Seek a buy to let mortgage Make sure you have needed financial reserves Invest for the long term Find an ideal rental market Invest in commercial properties Evaluate return potential Make sure you're getting a deal Obtain insurance Market your rental property Make sure to collect rent Hire a property manager
ASSESS YOUR ABILITY TO MANAGE THE PROPERTY 
Being a landlord is not passive income or a part-time job. You will have many responsibilities when it comes to managing the property. This includes selecting and communicating with tenants, repairing the property when necessary, and dealing with a large variety of day-to-day issues. Make sure that you aren't already juggling too much with work and family before deciding to become a landlord.
SEEK A BUY TO LET MORTGAGE 
In order to rent out a property, you'll obviously have to purchase it first. This will be done with a buy to let mortgage, which is assessed differently than an owner occupied mortgage. The bank will consider the potential rental income and expenses of the property versus the owner's ability to pay for it. Use a mortgage calculator online to determine how much you can afford to spend on a rental property.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NEEDED FINANCIAL RESERVES 
Owning a rental property can have unexpected problems. Your tenant can lose their job and not be able to pay the rent. You have to have enough money in the bank to get you through months without any money coming in. There are owners who are dependent on the rent to pay their mortgage.
INVEST FOR THE LONG TERM 
Never buy real estate as an investment unless you have a 10 to 15 year horizon. Housing bubbles seem to come every 10 to 15 years and everyone wants a piece of the action. The great majority of people never get the chance to get out in time and get financially hurt. The wise investor is not swayed by greed and quick returns.
EVALUATE RETURN POTENTIAL 
Your main focus should be on your potential return on the property, which is the rent you receive minus any expenses. This will depend on the prevailing rent in the area and the specific qualities of the home that might allow you to charge more or less rent. Ask the current owner of the property for financial information regarding the property, particularly if they have been renting it out.
MARKET YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY 
Start by listing your property on websites like Craigslist, Trulia, and Zillow. Make sure to include plenty of high-quality and well-lit pictures. Fill out the listing will as much information as you can. You can also purchase an advertisement in the newspaper, though this is expensive and may be ineffective.
HIRE A PROPERTY MANAGER 
A property manager or property management company can relieve the burden of your landlord duties. They collect rent, take care of maintenance, and find new tenants when needed, among other duties. However, hiring a property manager will generally cost you 5 to 10 percent of your rent revenue.
WHO I AM‌ 
Tim Marais is a successful real estate investor real estate transaction, buying and residential homes and helps various buyers and sellers to face the challenges occurs in the real estate market.