What to Know About Investing in Real Estate When You Retire
When it comes to retirement, we all want to spend it with our family. Relaxing, reflecting, and not worrying about money. However, sometimes life can get the better of us and by the time we get to retirement, we realize that we may have some money issues. Retire can be expensive, if not planned well. To avoid any sticky situations, it might be time to consider some options to generate some income during your golden years.
What kind of income can you generate when you’re already retired? From part-time jobs to investing, to simply saving money when you’re younger, there are plenty of ways to make sure you’re financially covered. If you don’t plan on working full time after you retire, investing in real estate is a good way to go. The real estate market has a high possibility of financial success if you play your cards right! You can find bargains on properties, which can give you a high return on your investments if you know what to look for. Here, we are going to talk about everything you need to know before you start investing!
Investing in Real Estate – Here’s What You Need to Know
Before you decide on investing in real estate to secure your retirement income, there are a few things to learn. First things first, to put it simply, you need to find a property, how you’re going to pay for it and sell it.
The Funding
This is the tricky part as there are a few ways to go about financing a residential investment. You can take out a mortgage or use your IRA funds. So which payment method should you choose? If you don’t have the cash to make such a large payment, using your IRA funds is a good way to go. From the many types of IRA accounts that you can have, a self-directed IRA, or SDIRA, is recommended for a few reasons. Not only will your earnings and equity grow in your IRA account, but you will also have more protection and control over your finances. If you’re looking to make the most out of your investment, using your SDIRA funds is a good option!
If you have the cash on hand, you could pay for your property with a mortgage. This seems like a simpler option on the surface but you have to take into account a few things. For one, you need to make this purchase needs before you retire, as experts suggest. Next, depending on mortgage guidelines, you will need to fulfill certain requirements to be eligible, which can be tricky. Not to mention, a substantial downpayment is needed. So keep that in mind if you choose to finance your investment, this way.
The Property
Once you’ve found the money, next you’ve got to find the right property! This step can be a difficult task unless you know what to look for. Experts recommend when choosing a property, to prioritize location over initial buying price. The buying price depends on the market and can fluctuate, leaving you in a potential deficit. However, that house with the great ocean view will always be on the market.
The next thing you need to look at it is whether the property is going to bring you a renter who is willing to lease it. Is that one-bedroom residence going to sell in a neighborhood with mostly single adults or families? Think carefully about what property you buy, because that will be the product that you’ll have to sell!
What to Keep in Mind
Now that you’re up to speed on all the technicalities, there’s a few things to keep in mind before you start investing. With any kind of investment, although the payoff may be great there are a few potential problems you may encounter.
When crunching those numbers you cannot forget recurring expenses! Unfortunately, when buying a residential property you don’t stop paying for it then. Once you own the property, you need to also think about the funds you’ll need for any added expenses. Maintenance issues, marketing your property, and the loss of income should your property be vacant to name a few. Some of these costs can be minimized, however.
For example, the cost of maintenance is much cheaper if you do the repairs yourself! Depending on your state or municipality, there can be some sticky real estate laws that you need to keep up with. Finding a good real estate lawyer can help with these issues.
So there you have it! Now you’re all set to invest in your retirement! So call your accountant or bank, browse the internet and set up your golden years, so you can live happily and comfortably!
