10 Tips for Buying Your First Rental Property

Do you know your way around a toolbox? How are you at repairing drywall or unclogging a toilet? Sure, you could call somebody to do it for you, but that will eat into your profits. Property owners who have one or two homes often do their own repairs to save money. If you’re not the handy type and don’t have lots of spare cash, being a landlord may not be right for you.

Of course, that changes as you add more properties to your portfolio. Lawrence Pereira, president of King Harbor Wealth Management in Redondo Beach, Calif., owns properties on the East Coast while living on the West Coast. As somebody who says he’s not at all handy, he makes it work. How? “I put together a solid team of cleaners, handymen and contractors,” says Pereira. This isn’t recommended for new investors, but as you get the hang of real estate investing you don’t have to remain local.

Savvy investors might carry debt as part of their investment portfolio, but the average person should avoid it. If you have student loans, unpaid medical bills or children who will soon attend college, purchasing a rental property may not be the right move. Pereira agrees that being cautious is key, saying, “It’s not necessary to pay down debt if your return from your real estate is greater than the cost of debt. That is the calculation you need to make. However, don’t put yourself in a position where you lack the cash to make payments on your debt. Always have a margin of safety.”

Investment properties generally require a larger down payment than owner-occupied properties, so they have more-stringent approval requirements. The 3% you may have put down on the home you currently live in isn’t going to work for an investment property. You will need at least 20 percent, given that mortgage insurance isn’t available on rental properties.

The cost of borrowing money might be relatively cheap right now, but the interest rate on an investment property will be higher than traditional mortgage interest rates. Remember, you need a low mortgage payment that won’t eat into your monthly profits too significantly.

Wall Street firms that buy distressed properties aim for returns of 5% to 7% because they have to pay staff. Individuals should set a goal of 10%. Estimate maintenance costs at 1% of the property value annually. Other costs include insurance, possible homeowners’ association fees, property taxes and monthly expenses such as pest control and landscaping. And then there’s landlord insurance.

It’s tempting to look for the house that you can get at a bargain and flip into a rental property. However, if this is your first property, that’s probably a bad idea. Unless you have a contractor who does quality work on the cheap—or you’re skilled at large-scale home improvements—you’re likely to pay too much to renovate. Instead, look to buy a home that is priced below the market and needs only minor repairs.

“Adding a bedroom not only increases resell value but often pays for itself in the first month if you are renting out the property by room. Plus, adding a bedroom costs about 10% of a kitchen remodel, and it can be argued that in many markets also has a more meaningful resell value impact.”

Operating expenses on your new property will be between 35 percent and 80 percent of your gross operating income. If you charge $1,500 for rent and your expenses come in at $600 per month, you’re at 40 percent. For an even easier calculation, use the 50-percent rule. If the rent you charge is $2,000 per month, expect to pay $1,000 in total expenses.

For every dollar that you invest, what is your return on that dollar? Stocks may offer a 7.5% cash-on-cash return, while bonds may pay 4.5%. A 6% return in your first year as a landlord is considered healthy, especially given that number should rise over time.

The more expensive the home, the higher your ongoing expenses will be. Some experts recommend starting with a $150,000 home.

When choosing a profitable rental property, look for low property taxes, a decent school district, a neighborhood with low crime rates and an area with a growing job market and plenty of amenities, such as parks, malls, restaurants and movie theaters.

This article originally appeared in Investopedia