A Message from Greg Paielli
Well summer has finally come upon us! Here in Arizona June is usually
the hottest of the summer months and is something that all living here
do not want to think about. The good news is that the economy seems to
be picking up especially among rentals. Our average rental periods have
been reduced significantly. One of the variables is the shortage of
available homes for sale. Yes shortage. The problem that we now see is
in the resale market. While housing has never been more affordable it
still remains very difficult for buyers not having cash and using FHA or
some other means of financing to obtain. It seems sad because many
young people should be taking advantage of this market and instead are
being blocked out by cash investors. What this will do to the overall
long term market is yet to be determined.
I would also like to welcome Robert Niccolai our newest team member here
at Paielli Realty, Inc. Robert brings his 12 years of banking
experience into our office. Feel free to drop an email or give Robert a
call if you have any real estate questions.
Later
this summer and in our next newsletter we will be unveiling some new
and exciting changes that will be happening with our firm. Please stay
tuned.
If we can be of any assistance please feel free to contact myself or our office at any time.
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In
a perfect world, buying, selling, and/or renting property, everyone
treats a rental property simply as a business process. However, as
everyone knows, the world is far from an ideal place. Personal
attachments, maintenance problems, and tenant difficulties can turn an
investment into an emotional morass. It is important to develop an
objective attitude that will help you cope with the more stressful
aspects of owning rental property.
Did you make a conscious decision to purchase investment property?
If so, be realistic about rentals and projected expenses when doing
projections on any potential investment. Inflated figures will not help
if the economic market does not cooperate. It is important to expect a
reasonable vacancy factor when owning a rental. Remember that in most
cases the property is a long-term investment and that the expenses are
tax deductible, increasing the bottom line or return on investment
(ROI).
Did you become a landlord because you must rent your home rather than sell because of a poor economic market?
This can make it more difficult to view your personal home as a
business investment. Make a special effort to think of your home now as a
"rental property" and view it from the perspective of a potential
tenant. Even while you were living in the property, it required
maintenance and repairs.
Review these ten good practices for all property owners/investors.
- Treat the property as a long-term investment even if you do not plan to keep it long-term - you never know what will transpire.
-
Be aware of legislation and legal practices that affect your rental
property - ignoring them can mean losses to your bottom line.
- Always be realistic about the current market and rental prices - this can reduce vacancy time.
- Practice preventative maintenance - this can reduce or eliminate major repairs and maintenance.
- Plan
for long-term maintenance - properties have life expectancies on all
major components of the property, such as roof, paint, heating and air
units, plumbing, and more. Eventually these systems will fail and/or
deteriorate.
- Be
prepared for all types of emergencies - tenant problems, maintenance,
or natural disasters. Maintaining a good rental insurance policy is a
big key for that preparation.
- Do
not rent the property "just" to generate income - wait for the right
tenancy. The wrong tenant can generate many unwanted expenditures and
headaches.
-
Remember that even the best of tenants can have problems that can
interrupt the payment of rent. It is important to remain objective and
fair instead of reacting emotionally.
-
Use professional services when necessary - maintenance, accounting,
legal, and more. This expense can reduce liability, aggravation, and
unnecessary expenses.
- Consult with your property management company regularly and discuss any concerns you have regarding your investment.
Take
the time to develop a "business" plan for your investment. Review
long-term expenditures and plan when and how you will handle them over
the period of ownership. This should include good insurance coverage, a
savings plan for maintenance/emergencies, and professional services when
necessary. This preparation can help maintain a business attitude when
any stressful event occurs.
As
your management company, we can assist you with realistic rental
prices, maintenance expenditures, professional services, tenant
problems, legal issues, and any other services required. Our support
will help you to maintain a "business" attitude for your investment.
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