With the median return on U.S. rental properties hovering at 8.6% annually, residential investment properties offer enticing potential. But simply owning an investment property doesn’t guarantee profits. Strategic moves are required to unlock a property’s full income potential.
Your investment property can deliver robust returns on investment (ROI) and financial growth with the right property in a strong rental market, smart management, and strategic upkeep. In this article, you will learn how to maximise your property’s ROI with a few practical steps.
ROI Beyond Numbers
When people think about ROI for residential property, they often focus on the numbers — things like rental yield, capital growth, and cash flow. However, ROI encompasses more than just percentages and dollar signs.
As an investor, you gain intangible benefits like peace of mind from a stable asset, pride of ownership in the property, and the satisfaction of positively impacting the local community. These soft returns are difficult to quantify but equally valuable in the investment experience.
Location: The Sunlight Factor
The location of your rental property is like a solar panel capturing light and converting it into ROI. Think of your rental property address not just as coordinates on a map but as a power source for ROI. Being situated near essential amenities like quality schools, parks, public transportation, and bustling streets bathes your property in sunlight.
Here are some key factors to consider location when evaluating investment properties:
- Accessibility and convenience. Look at how easy it is to access the property and how convenient it is for tenants or customers.
- Neighbourhood and demographics. The neighbourhood and surrounding demographic profile will impact who will want to live in or frequent the area. Some neighbourhoods cater more to families, young professionals, or seniors.
- Market trends. Look at recent market trends in the specific area and for that property type. Appreciation rates, rents, vacancy rates, and days on the market can vary by location. Some locations may be up and coming with growth potential, while others are declining.
- Property type and use. Make sure the location aligns with the property type and intended use. For example, a downtown area with nightlife may not be ideal for a multifamily rental complex but could be great for a restaurant or retail space.
- Comparing options. Look at multiple location options side by side, weighing the pros and cons of each. You may find a nearby suburb has better schools or a different neighbourhood is more walkable. Run the numbers to see the financial projections in each area.
Leveraging a location near community fixtures like schools and transportation in the Dubai real estate market magnifies these effects. Positioning your investment property to soak up the sunlight of a sought-after area pays dividends now and when you sell.
Soil of Market Awareness
The real estate market goes through cycles of 18-year intervals. The market cycle consists of four phases:
- Recovery
- Expansion
- Downturn
- Recession
Each phase provides opportunities for those who are paying attention. Timing your property purchases can lead to a bountiful financial harvest.
The real estate market has a natural ebb and flow like the seasons. Just as a farmer plants seeds when the soil is warm and the conditions are ideal for growth, the strategic investor looks for opportunities to buy when the market is recovering from a downturn, and prices are still relatively low.
Property values typically rise during the expansion phase, allowing investors to build equity and appreciation in their holdings. The wise investor keeps a close eye on market trends, sowing investments when conditions are favourable and harvesting gains when prices peak.
As the farmer gathers the bounty during the warmest, sunniest days before colder weather sets in, the investor sells or refinances at the top of the cycle to realise returns. When a downturn or recession hits, the cycle starts again.
Timing real estate purchases to match the current cycle is key to maximising your return on investment. Do your research to determine where in the cycle your local market is, and make strategic buys and sells based on whether it’s the season to plant new seeds or harvest the crops you’ve sown.
Harvesting ROI: Not a Linear Path
Harvesting ROI isn’t always a straightforward path. Sometimes it’s a winding road filled with twists and turns; other times, it’s a stroll along a scenic trail. The key is staying open to unexpected opportunities that can unlock hidden value in your investment property.
For example, you may discover a forgotten attic that can be converted into a cosy studio flat. Or a basement that can be transformed into a stylish lounge area for tenants. These hidden gems can increase your rental income and property value far beyond what you anticipated. Keep an open and curious mindset. Do routine inspections of your property and look at it with fresh eyes.
