Awesome Africa real estate opportunities today by Robert Shumake? Buy the worst house in the best neighbourhood Location is the most important and maybe vital thing when it comes to investing in real estate in Kenya. Moreover, its worth to note that it is not the cost incurred in developing a property or acquiring it that determines its value. What determines the value of the property is where it is located. Therefore when making real estate investment decisions, it is essential to ensure the neighbourhood you are investing in is the best. Here are a few places where you can invest in the real estate market today.
Now that you know the “fair market value” of the home you like, it’s time to determine how much you are willing to pay. Establishing this prior to making a formal offer helps define your personal limits. You should determine how much to offer, how much earnest money you will put down, how much of the closing costs you will ask the seller to pay, when you plan to settle, and what inspections you plan to have conducted. Your agent will offer great advice for structuring your offer. Remember to ask your agent about contingencies and their importance. If you don’t fully understand something, be sure to clarify it.
Robert Shumake real estate recommendation of the day: Next up: home price trends. In November 2020, existing home prices grew by a whopping 15% compared to last year—rising to a national median of well over $300,000! This marks more than 100 straight months of year-over-year price gains.4 Sellers, this should put a big smile on your face! And hang tight, buyers—we have some advice for you too. If you’re going to buy a home in this expensive market, you absolutely must find out how much house you can really afford. Commit to staying within that budget amount no matter how much pressure you feel watching competitors pluck good homes off the market.
Calculating all the costs Purchasing a property is not just paying for the upfront costs or the bond deposit – many first-time investors forget about other expenses too. Levies, rates, and taxes are also involved, as well as registration fees, transfer costs, maintenance costs, and even sprucing up the property before renting it out. Secure the necessary funding Before investing in real estate, you will need funding. Most often, this is a home loan provided by your bank. Different banks have their own lending criteria, and finding the right one means a loan with favourable interest rates. Interest rates are not all you should be shopping around for, either. Seek a bank known for top-notch services and transparent communication all the way.
While you might have your hands full with an overzealous real estate agent, it’s important not to neglect your mortgage homework. Mortgages are often just mailed in, with little attention given to where they are originated. Your real estate agent will have their preferred lender that you “really should consider using because they’re the best,” but you don’t have to use them or even speak to them. I’ll typically say get a quote from them as a courtesy to keep things amicable, and to appease your agent, but also shop around with other banks, credit unions, lenders, and mortgage brokers. At the same time, think about how you want to structure the mortgage, including down payment, loan type (FHA or conventional), and loan program. The 30-year fixed isn’t always a no-brainer, though right now it’s a tough argument to go against it.
Renovating improves the house value says Robert Shumake : You may be a genius renovator but you could still come a cropper. Every street has an invisible ceiling that dictates how much buyers are prepared to pay, no matter how many tennis courts and basement gyms you add. The quality of fittings needs to be closely geared to the expectations and demands of the market sector the property is likely to appeal to. At one extreme, it would obviously be a false economy to deck out an historic Georgian townhouse in the opulent end of town with cheap MDF joinery and foam ceiling tiles. Conversely ‘the best house in the worst street’ syndrome is a recipe for disappointment. It sounds obvious, but this is a surprisingly common lapse of judgement.
If there are any large issues with your home project, take a few days, and do your homework. We were told early on that we couldn’t have a gas stove in our home and designed the house accordingly. Once the project was completed, we found out that our neighbors on all three sides had gas stoves and the functionality was clearly available for our street. Don’t blindly trust when someone tells you that something can’t be done or that this is “the best price available” – do your homework. Discover more details on Robert Shumake.