Why Investing In Real Estate Is Challenging
The property industry is popular with many would-be -rich people.
It is one of the sectors responsible for the proliferation of millionaires.
With its high returns on investment, and the fact that housing is a basic need, no one can blame investors who spend their savings on real estate projects.
Despite these positive aspects, this industry is replete with challenges, especially for beginners.
Success in this sector depends on one's ability to overcome challenges, and to stay afloat when the market is not favorable.
Real estate business is problematic where one has no access to verifiable and reliable data and statistics on the industry.
This phenomenon is especially prevalent in developing nations and newly-created settlement areas.
The prospective property buyer finds it difficult to prove the ownership of properties he or she intends to invest in.
Moreover, there may be a dearth of data on prices of property and suppliers of construction materials.
The situation is aggravated by corruption, and lack of transparency in housing dealings.
Another key challenge in real estate investment is access to funding.
Unless one has enough capital, banks offer the best option for finances.
Financial institutions can provide the monetary muscle one needs to make a lucrative deal go through.
However, banks avoid committing their money when the housing market is not conducive to investment.
Often, there are disparities between the timing of the prospective investor and the bank's assessment on when to invest in the industry.
An innovative and potentially-profitable business plan may convince a bank, but this is not always guaranteed.
Having a back-up plan to finance your business is the best approach in dealing with rejection by banks.
Government agencies, and the rules they enact and enforce to control the property market, also pose a formidable challenge to investment.
There are numerous regulations to control all the players in the real estate industry.
Agents, appraisers, lenders and construction firms are all subjected to restrictive rules depending on the prevailing economic conditions in a country.
Investors often experience difficulties navigating these troubled waters.
Only those that have adequate financial backing successfully go through such times.
For new entrants, understanding the prevailing regulations, and making sure the firm is in tandem with the law, is an effective strategy for surviving the hard time.
Eradicating these legal barriers will greatly aid investment in the industry.