Investing in property or real estate

Historically real estate, or property as we call it here in the UK, has been one of the best performing investment mediums, so has the bubble burst now or can we expect prices to continue in an upwards direction? The credit squeeze has had a knock on effect on the market on the whole, with investors finding it harder to acquire the funds needed to reinvest and as a consequence prices for property have started to fall a little in some areas and in other areas a lot.
When prices fall there becomes a buying opportunity for those able to raise the finance but how can we make sure that we are buying the right properties at the right price? A good proven method for investing in property is to visit the property twice – once in the daytime and once in the evening or on a dull day. Viewing a property in the sunshine can sometimes be misleading as you will be viewing the property in it’s best light so take a second visit on a duller day will help you to get a more balanced view. An evening visit may also bring to light any problems with noisy neighbours, as this is the time when noise is most likely to occur. Take a good walk around the area as well and ask yourself the question, “Would I like to live here?” If the answer is no then why would anyone else like to either? Look out for developing areas with nice cafes, boutiques and an upbeat feel to the area. Think about parking facilities as well. Although the governments may not like it, the car is still very much an essential means of transport for most people, with supermarkets on the fringe of towns and cities, school runs, and as general means of transport. Car parking will be a major consideration for most people looking to rent a property.
Another point to consider is how the long the property has been on the market for. For a property that has been on the market for over six months ask yourself why. Is the vendor asking too much for it or is there a reason why it’s not being sold. Perhaps there is a problem with parking or noisy neighbours. If you think the price is too high don’t be afraid of putting in a lower offer. Have a look at other properties in the area that have recently sold and find out what price they sold for. You can do this by looking on the internet. There are several websites where you can type in a postcode and the price of properties sold in the last few years will be displayed. Just do a search on google for “Property prices,” and add the name of your country. This should bring up some websites where you can find out how much properties in the area sold for and once you have this information you are in a much better negotiating position.
Investing in properties in holiday destinations need a little more homework. Ask yourself some questions. Is this destination going to be popular in 5 – 10 years? Does the destination have a nearby airport or will it have one in the near future. Is this a place where I would like to come on holiday? Is it a developing area? Do you see four and five star hotels being built nearby?

You can look for property online or sell my property privately at http://www.sellmypropertyonline.co.uk , a popular website where sellers can advertise their properties cheaply with no commission rates. Buyers can browse properties and contact the vendors for free.