Very often, when we own extra money that we don't have to spend on any current things, the thought of investing comes to mind. This can be done in many ways, such as buying stocks, buying gold, or acquiring real estate and renting a room. Buying houses or apartments for rent has become a very popular form of passive money making. However, do you have what it takes to become a landlord? How much can you earn from it? Is it even worth going in this direction? In this article, we will try to answer all these questions.
Who is the landlord?
A landlord is the owner of real estate, such as houses or apartments, which he later rents out to an individual or some company. The term landlady can be used for female owners. A landlord receives money from tenants for being able to use the space they're rented. In theory alone, it sounds like a very easy, profitable, and enjoyable job, but like any other job, it comes with many responsibilities and unpleasantness.
Everything you need to know before you become a landlord
Especially with the prevailing inflation these days, having an extra source of income can't hurt. However, this job is not as easy as it may seem. As a rent house owner, you have to manage both the property and the people renting it. You have to take care of any defects, repairs, and payments, in addition to monitoring how the people renting your property can threaten it. You can't be lax at times when things go wrong, and you have to monitor that everything is as it should be.
The financial issue
Of course, the very vision of multiplied returns for owning rental houses only pushes you to take on this task, but there are several factors to consider. One is to take a realistic look at whether you can afford to maintain the property, regardless the renters pay for it. You never know what's going to happen, and there may be a situation where the money doesn't come in, and your tenant gives no sign of life. You must be prepared to cover these expenses yourself then.
In addition, take into account all sorts of breakdowns or faults that will occur and require immediate repair - this also generates additional costs. Before you become a landlord, seriously consider whether you can afford it and whether it will not just be a burden on you.
The issue regarding tenants
Whether you are renting real estate, renting a house, renting a room, or renting bedrooms, you always need to consider the people you will be sharing your premises with and the trouble they may bring. This is not a rule, however, there is a chance that you will run into the kind of tenant who can cause a lot of trouble. It is important that you then have people you can go to for advice. There are all sorts of clubs for landlords who can help you with solving your problems.
It is also important that you familiarize yourself thoroughly with local landlord-tenant laws. Failure to know it can involve lawsuits or monetary losses. You need to know your rights as well as your responsibilities, but they are also important when it comes to your tenant. You need to know what you can afford, in such a way that you do not suffer unpleasant consequences of your actions.
To manage your investments in the right way, you also need to assess the toughness of your character at the outset. In some situations, you will be required to be the bad guy. In order not to be at a loss, you need to consider how resilient and tough you are. After hearing your tenant's very sad and difficult story because of which he is unable to pay the rent, will you be able to refuse him? Or will you be able to take legal measures against tenants causing other problems?
As a rent house owner, you have to remember that you never know who you'll run into, so it's important to do as much research as possible about the person you plan to rent a room to. It's even worth putting in the extra money if it means avoiding unnecessary unpleasantness, financial loss, or other such things.
Your expenses as a landlord
The first consideration is the initial payment for the property in question. Whether you pay the entire amount up front or take out a mortgage on the house in question, it's important to think through whether you can afford it in the long term. There is also another important expense when you are a landlord who is renting a house or renting room. Insurance of a rental property is much more expensive than insurance of a house you live in. Remember that when you are renting a house, insurance is very important.
Another expense you have to face as a rent house owner, which we mentioned a bit earlier, is keeping your properties in good condition. Any breakdowns and faults will require such costs as the intervention of professionals. It's worth dealing with these issues regularly, because later if the costs pile up you may not be able to cope with them.
The last issue, which we also wrote about above, is the lack of continuity of payments by your tenants. In this case, you must be able to cover all costs yourself, related to insurance, mortgage, taxes, and others. It may also happen that you simply can't find a willing person to rent your property. Consider whether you can afford to cover these costs out of your pocket.
Time management
Money is not the only factor influencing whether you should take on becoming a landlord. Availability is also important, sometimes even 24 hours a day. In case of any problems, you will be the first person your tenants will contact, which means you must have a schedule free enough to show up at your property at any time to get to the bottom of a problem or answer endless questions.
Outside help
If your schedule doesn't allow you to deal with everything at once, you can always think about hiring help. This carries additional costs, of course, but an outside property manager can be a lifesaver. This is also a good solution for people who own properties outside their city or state. This way, you have an on-site person to take care of all the day-to-day matters.
How much does the landlord make?
The question of earnings is quite diverse. It all depends on the number of properties you own, their condition, how much additional funds you will have to put into their maintenance, insurance, and mortgage payments, and much more. It is very difficult to determine the average of such earnings, due to many factors beyond your control. You can make money on it, go out at zero, or even be at a loss.
However, it is worth remembering that real estate in itself is a very good investment if you decide to sell it after many years. Real estate prices continue to rise, so it can prove to be a great long-term investment.
Summary
Before you decide to become a landlord, you should think these things through:
- Calculate how much your tenants' fees should be so that they cover all your expenses, and you have some profit from it - make a renting plan.
- Remember to familiarize yourself with the most important laws in this field.
- Make friends, among other landlords and home installation specialists, who will help you respond to faults for a reasonable fee.
- Consider hiring a property manager.
- Carefully select potential tenants.
We hope that through this article you have learned about all the dangers and problems associated with being a landlord and will be able to make an informed decision about whether you are suitable for the job. Want to learn more about investing? Click HERE