What You Need to Know about Buying Real Estate

According to the Real Estate Roundtable (non-profit public policy entity based in Washington
D.C. that works on public policy issues concerning the real estate industry), real estate
plays an important role in the economy of the United States as a whole. It generates 1/3 or
an equivalent of $2.9 trillion worth of GDP (gross domestic product) that results in the
creation of 9 million jobs. In addition, real estate is the major source for about 70
percent of local tax revenues that are used to pay for public schools, health services,
roads, peace and order, and other essential services.

That is why many individuals are attracted to buying and selling real estate properties for
a profit. Real estate market is one of the active markets in the U.S. economy, with real
estate brokers and developers bidding on different properties available for sale and
searching for hot properties from MLS (Multiple Listing Services). They will try to make
more money out of these properties and attempt to sell these properties for about 30 to 40
percent of its original purchase price.

With the continuous competition rising among different real estate players, there are things
that you need to know about buying real estate properties. Of course, you do not want to
spend much of your money acquiring a real estate property that is not properly maintained.
In the same manner, you would not want to purchase real estates that are overpriced by more
than 50 percent, excluding applicable taxes and fees.

Here are some of the things that you should consider when buying real estate properties
(especially those who are first-time buyers):

1) Value Does the property have a good value? It is a common procedure that banks will
conduct an appraisal to protect their interest on the property. In case that the value of
the property is lower than the contract price, you must renegotiate the contract price and
prove to the seller that it is not worth of what they are asking. However, in case that the
value of the property exceeds the contract price, then most likely you got a good buy based
on the value.

2) Condition as previously mentioned, you must not spend your money on real estate
properties that are not properly maintained. You should always conduct a property inspection
to make sure that it bears no deficiencies.

3) Parking make sure that there are parking spaces allotted (especially if the property is
for commercial purposes). You would not want your visitors to park their vehicles several meters away from the property.

4) Safety- many real estate buyers are focusing on the value and condition of the property
that they often forget to inquire about the neighborhood where the property is located. If
you are familiar with the area, then it is not a problem (whether you will stay in that
property for good or you will lease it to other individuals). However, you might as well
check the premises for any obscure atmosphere (high crime incidence, for instance) so that
you will be able to establish the safety around the neighborhood to yourself or to other interested buyers.

Make sure that you consider the aforementioned essential aspects when buying real estate
properties. Keep in mind that the success of your real estate purchases lies beneath on your purchasing strategy and not just on what the seller tells you.