Everything You Need to Know About Investing in Texas Real Estate

Investing in Real Estate

Over the last few years, the Lone Star State has seen a tremendous boom in the real estate market. Texas is home to one of the largest housing markets in the United States, making it a great place for investors to grow their money. It is also the second largest state and offers a wide variety of real estate to invest in. Whether you are looking for properties in big cities like San Antonio and Austin or a quiet town like Fredericksburg, the possibilities are endless. If you are ready to take the plunge in the Texas real estate market, you have come to the right place. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to start investing in Texas real estate.

Get Funding

Real estate investing comes with numerous financial benefits that will help increase cash flow. It is a worthy endeavor for any investor, but you may be feeling a little lost if this is your first time considering this. Before starting your investment journey, you need to secure funding. Real estate is not something you buy with a click of a button. There are a lot of moving parts at play when you purchase property with the plan to invest.

Traditionally, you would apply for a conventional loan at a financial institution. Lenders issuing these types of loans will examine your creditworthiness and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio to ensure you will be able to pay back the amount given. If you are looking for something a little different, a hard money loan could be for you. For instance, when getting a hard money loan Houston, they will not evaluate your credit score or overall financial health to make a decision. Instead, creditors are more focused on the value of the property and will use it as collateral should you fail to pay your loan back. Another key difference is that hard money loans are typically approved and distributed within 7-10 days. Conventional loans could take weeks or months.

Find Profitable Areas

Even though there are various cities in Texas, not all of them are going to make you a profit. It is important to thoroughly research and look at different areas in the Lone Star State to guarantee your earnings. To begin your search, use a home buying website or hire a local professional realtor.  Here are a few questions to guide your search:

  • Do you want to rent to college-aged students, families, or young professionals?
  • Do you want your property to reside in a tech-savvy city, border town, or a picturesque estate?
  • What do the real estate trends in the area look like?

A few popular cities worth bookmarking are Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. These four locations have a little bit of everything and are growing exponentially. Finding the perfect property will be a breeze.

Invest In A Fix and Flip Project

House flipping is a lucrative venture for those who do not want to become landlords but want a slice of the real-estate-investment pie. Fixer-upper homes are properties that need a little bit of TLC to shine. These houses are typically below market average but need renovations, both big and small. HGTV shows, such as Flip or Flop, Property Brothers, House Hunters, and countless others make this type of work look easy. However, it is a risky business that demands a lot of time and effort. You will have to sign plenty of paperwork to acquire the popper permits and comply with zoning laws.

If you are interested in this type of investment, have a professional conduct a home inspection to ensure the house’s skeleton, wiring, and plumbing is in order. Avoid investing more money than you will collect. The last thing you want to do is spend a fortune renovating the property and only receive a fraction of what you put in. This project is not for the faint of heart but can provide a large enough profit to make up for any losses.

The Bottom Line

Real estate is a great way to diversify your portfolio and earnings. As with any investment, there is risk involved, but you can mitigate it with planning and research. Texas is a rapidly growing state full of properties just waiting to be discovered. What are you waiting for?

Image Credits: istockphoto.com

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Nirupama Verma is a self passionate blogger, managing a bunch of informational blogs. She has written a lot of informational content for several popular blogs.

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