5 signs youre cash flow negative on your vacation rental property

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Spending money consistently on a cash flow negative rental isn't smart. It might be time to change your strategy.

 

Vacation rentals are a great way to make extra income from your property investments. Short term rental provider, HomeAway https://www.homeaway.com/info/getting-started/income reports that the run-of-the-mill vacation rental property owner nets $11,000 a year.

 

But if you consistently have to spend rental profits on roof repairs, vacancies, regular maintenance, bad tenants etc, you probably have a cash flow negative property on your hand. And there are two approaches to dealing with this problem. You can either wait it out and hope things will somehow change or kickstart an exit strategy to move on.

 

While cash flow doesn't have to be a decisive factor, especially when you have a vacation rental property in an up and coming neighborhood with strong potential appreciation rates. Many times, you might be spending more than you bargained for with your rental. And the faster you discover this, the better.

 

This article outlines five signs of negative cash flow vacation rentals but before we proceed let's see a simple formula for measuring cash flow on an investment property:

 

Cash Flow = Total Income (Application fees, Rent, etc.) - Total Expenses (Monthly mortgage (if applicable); General Maintenance, Electricity, HOA, Property Management, vacancies etc.)

 

As a rule of thumb when buying an investment property, it is wise to set aside an emergency fund to cover at least first six months of expenses. So let's dive right in and see some of the signs to watch for.

 

1. High vacancy/Low occupancy rate in a location: What's the occupancy rate for your neighborhood? An important sign of a cash flow negative property is high vacancy rate in the neighborhood. According to Turnkey VR https://blog.turnkeyvr.com/much-money-can-make-vacation-rental/ specializing in the management of turnkey vacation rental homes, "Occupancy rates for vacation rentals can be all over the map. For instance, a vacation rental home in a big city might create more demand than a rental property at a seasonal location like the beach". Location is key when buying real estate, especially for investment. Hence it's wise to spend time researching a neighborhood before taking the plunge.

 

2. High Maintenance property: Are you doling out high monthly fees for property maintenance? Then you might be dealing with a cash flow negative property. A 30-year-old property might offer a great deal but when you have to spend considerable time and money on maintenance and fixes monthly, you have to ask yourself if it's worth it.

 

3. Declining Rental Property Market: How strong is the rental property market? There is a strong correlation between a thriving property market and low vacancy rates. Many times a declining rental market is a sign of underlying economic issues, most times accompanied by high unemployment rates and slow growth. Sticking around in such a neighborhood would be unwise. Unless you're confident about a significant development in the neighborhood in coming years.

 

4. High Property Taxes: Did property taxes go up? Taxes can get tricky, especially when you're buying as a foreigner. However, when sudden tax changes are eating up your income, then you have a negative cash flow property.

 

5. Problem Tenants: Are problem tenants eating up your profits? You have two options, regarding managing your rental property. You can either hire a property management company, which means more expenses but better management. Or you can just ride it solo. While this offers you the chance to take an active role with your property, dealing with problem tenants (tenants who break things, tenants refusing to pay rent or pay promptly, tenants causing disturbance etc.) is a major headache and can eat into your profits.

 

Hence the importance of having a screening process that's hard to bypass. However, if you deal with problem tenants a lot, it might be time to consider setting an exit strategy in motion.

 

You can take advantage of short-term rental cash flow with sites like HomeAway and AirBnb. While tenant turnover rates can be high in the short term, short term rentals can be profitable, especially in a popular destination such as a ski resort or beach community.

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5 Inexpensive Home Improvement Tips To Improve Your Homes Value

  • 29, August 2023

Depending on your home's value, your market and comps in your neighborhood, you could consider making renovations in your home before listing. In a place like New York, however, where houses are being snapped up fast and prices are over the roof, renovating your house for sale might be a crazy idea. But in suburbs with high inventory, your house needs to measure up.

 

When selling, you wouldn't be looking through the same eyeglasses as a new homeowner. Your calculations and priorities will be much different. The most important thing when you have to consider value is return on investment. What renovations will make my house sell fast and at the same time give good return on investment? Before you embark on gutting your circa 1990 kitchen, the first thing you might need to do is consult an experienced realtor who knows what works best in your particular neighborhood.

 

You might find out that minor cosmetic upgrades will get more buyers through the door. And yea, the door is important. Instead of spending money on pricey renovations like adding a deck or basement revamp, Remodeling magazine’s 2015 Cost vs. Value Report says that replacing your existing front door with a new steel door will net you a 101.8% ROI for a minimal replacement cost of $1,230. Knowing which areas to spend on will help save you a lot of money when making renovations. Let's look at five low-cost ways to increase your home's value.

 

        Inexpensive Home Improvement Tips to Improve Your Home’s Value

 

1. Consider curb appeal. Nothing says 'welcome to this lovely house' to a prospective buyer as a nicely mowed lawn, a few shrubs here and there and a well-swept walkway. The first impression buyers have as they drive to your home is truly important. So, it's necessary you set the stage right. Hiring a good landscaper will be worth the money. Not only will your home appeal to prospective buyers, your neighbor would also love the effort.

 

2. Have a cohesive kitchen. Kitchen plays a big role in home improvement. Many Realtors call it the heart of the home. Indeed it is; since an average American homeowner spends at least 37 minutes daily in the kitchen. Sprucing up your kitchen demands that you create the impression of a clean and updated kitchen. One way to achieve this impression is creating cohesiveness, especially with color. Mix and match kitchens are not the best. If your kitchen appliances don't match, consider ordering new doors, e.g new cabinet doors or face panels for them.

 

3. Work on your bathroom. Next to the kitchen, bathrooms are important to potential home buyers. You can make a difference in your bathroom at a low cost by adding new toilet seat and a pedestal sink. These are also pretty easy for homeowners to install on their own. One thing you may not be able to do on your own but which will add value to your bathroom is replacing an old, discolored, bathroom floor with vinyl tiles. Bright, energy efficient lighting will also improve your bathroom's appeal.

 

4. Update closets. Cramped storage spaces are not attractive to potential buyers. You can step up your storage by adding a do-it-yourself wire and laminate system to bedrooms and pantries.

 

5. Check the mechanics. Having a minor inspection and working on existing faults in your home like faulty outlets, loose wires and water leaks give the impression that someone has really taken care of the home.

 

 

 

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How Much Should I expect To Pay in Stamp Duty Fees When Buying Foreign Property?

  • 20, May 2023

When you hear stamp duty, don't run for cover! Stamp duty fees are only applicable in the Commonwealth of Nations countries, Singapore, Australia and a few states in the US. It is a tax that arises from the transfer of property, usually, you pay when you sell. In this case, there will be a transfer of documents. Stamp duty legally requires that these documents are stamped, this shows the amount of tax paid. This means you’re actually paying for government stamp. Where enforced, stamp duty is placed on transfer of lands, homes, buildings, copyrights, patents and securities.

Facts About Stamp Duty fees

Stamp duty can be one small additional cost to your home, especially if you're dealing with a second home or investment property. Here are some things you should know about stamp duty:

* In the UK, the government levies stamp duty tax on all share transactions, currently at 0.5%. This generates £4bn for the treasury.

* In the European Union, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have no stamp duty.

* France charges stamp duty only for transactions above £5,000. In the US, stamp duty is more or less insignificant, only 0.003 percent is charged.

* When you deal with really big money, it becomes a problem. Stamp duty is the reason why influential fund manager, Fidelity, moved half of its £6bn UK special situation fund offshore in 2016.

* Stamp duty came into being 200 years ago in the UK and some people believe that it was the sparking flame for American Independence Movement. When it was introduced to the American colonies in 1765, it was met by protests.

* Stamp duty is only paid on brick and mortar of the house. It shouldn't feature fixtures and fittings, white goods or items of furniture as they are exempt. You pay stamp duty on land and property purchases.

* You also pay the stamp duty when you buy shares valued at more than £ 1,000, although it is a different system, and the rates are different as well.

* You do not pay it on properties in Scotland. Instead you have a Land and Buildings transaction tax on properties costing more than £ 145,000.

* In the UK, just because your property is below £ 125,000 does not mean you can ignore Stamp Duty. You still have to submit a Stamp Duty land tax return.

 

* Even though your lawyer usually takes care of it, it is your responsibility to make sure that the return and payment are shipped on time. If it is late, you will pay a fine of £ 100, plus any interest.

* If you are transferring a portion of your home to an ex-partner after divorce or separation, or if you are giving the deeds of your house to someone - as a gift or in your will - you do not have to pay stamp duty.

How Much Stamp Duty Should I Expect To Pay?

In the UK, there are several price bands for Stamp Duty. The tax is calculated by the part of the purchase price of property that falls within each band. For example, if you buy a house for £ 275,000, the tax on the stamp duty (SDLT) you owe is calculated as follows:

0% on the first £ 125,000 = £ 0

2% on next £ 125,000 = £ 2,500

5% in the final £ 25,000 = £ 1,250

Total SDLT = £ 3,750

In this case you pay £ 3,750. This will not be the case in other countries. So, it is important that you contact a lawyer in your destination country who’d give information on how stamp duty is calculated.

By Bebuzee Admin Read More
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20 Highly Effective Real Estate Advertising Slogans to Get Better Results

  • 14, September 2023

A memorable real estate slogan can keep you top on the minds of prospects. Your slogan defines your business, forms an element of all your marketing materials and can be what people associate with you. For Scott Geller, a RE/MAX realtor in Jamison, Pa, with the slogan "Scott Geller, the home seller",  some people probably think his slogan is his real full name. The name and occupation awareness brought him so much business that after a while, he didn't need to advertise to the general public, he had enough repeat customers and referrals.

 

A clever, memorable slogan forms part of your identity. While a good slogan can transform your business; a bad one can harm your business and reputation. Hence you should put more effort into developing the right slogan for your real estate business. Here are a few things good real estate slogans can do for your business.

 

1. Help you appeal to customer emotions

2. Highlights your customer service or care.

3. Reflects your business's personality and character.

4. It is memorable; stays long in the mind of prospects.

Let's look at twenty great real estate slogans and some reasons why they are effective.

 

20 EFFECTIVE REAL ESTATE SLOGANS

 

One important thing slogans and taglines do is helping to distinguish you from the competition. According to Dictionary.com, a slogan is a distinctive cry that separates you from everything else. So, the most important thing you want to maintain is the individuality of your slogan. Here are 20 real estate slogans that work. You can put your creative gear in motion and use these examples to craft something effective for your real estate business.

 

1. Sell for More. Buy for less.

2. A Track record that speaks for itself.

3. The Realtor for You.

4. Turning Dreams into Reality

5. Doing Everything but the packing

6. Your Dream Home awaits.

7. Helping San Diego find where to live.

8. Experts in the local market.

9. Your concern is my priority

10. The agent that works harder after the closing papers are signed.

11. A tradition of (excellence, trust, service).

12. A cut above the rest.

13. Helping New Yorkers move since 1983.

14. I'm never too busy for your referrals.

15. Going above and beyond

16. Beautiful L.A homes

17. Helping clients get more home for less money

18. Beautiful places to live.

19. Helping you close for less.

20. Turning transactions into relationships.

 

What these slogans have in common are that:

1. They focus on the client. Your prospects do not care about you or your business. They want to know how you can help them. Having a real estate slogan that clearly states how you can help them gets you points. Keep your slogans around your clients and you'll keep them around longer.

2. Non-generic. Although you should look around and examine trends in your market and incorporate these in your real estate marketing, don't forget to differentiate yourself from the crowd. Is your slogan helping you stand out?

3. Memorable. Effective slogans have a musical memorability around them. Quality slogans are short phrases that are easily remembered.

Having a high quality real estate slogan will keep you in the minds of clients for a long time.

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