Saturday, July 19, 2008

Now Is The Time To Buy Durango Colorado Investment Real Estate!

Timing is everything, and the timing for buying Durango Colorado investment real estate is now. The Durango Herald (Durango's daily newspaper) ran an article today on the low supply and the increasing rental rates for rental homes and apartments in Durango. This is not a surprise, as we have been informing our clients for well over a year that rental rates are increasing, demand is high, and the supply is low. We live in an area of increasing population; the state demographer estimates our population increasing by 1 to 2 % per year. This population growth requires the need for housing, and businesses that service the increasing population.

As we know the real estate market has been soft, with several years of declining numbers of transactions, which means that the increased population must rely on rental homes. In addition, most of the investors have chosen other investments over the last few years, which has left the Durango market in a shortfall for housing. As investors, we look at the return from the rents and we look at the return on appreciation. Historically, we have seen residential rents average about 4-6 % of the value of the homes, and the appreciation has been an average of about 8.6 % for Durango homes in the last decade, and nationally the appreciation has been about 6 %. This can easily offer a double digit return.

Rents were under the market value for years, as first time home buyers moved out of rental property and into their first homes, and likewise, investors were purchasing homes to rent, which coupled to provide a large supply of rental homes. It was a tenant market, and the large supply with the low demand created a soft rental market. Now, that supply has turned around, and it is much more a landlord's market, and they can more easily dictate the amount of rent, the terms, and be particular on the quality of tenant.

The last ingredient for a perfect investment recipe is the timing of the real estate market for purchasing. We all know that it is a buyer's market, and although the median price has remained stable, there are deals out there. Again, we are in the third year of lower number of transactions, and sooner than later, this too will turn around. As astute investor will take advantage of these market conditions, and benefit in the long run. (Please read the previous blog on comparisons to the last housing crunch)

Last, smart investors invest money in markets that produce the best return for the lowest risks. How do you feel about the stock market right now? In these economic times, is it likely to give you the returns that you are looking for? Are the assets hard, meaning do they have underlying intrinsic value like real estate? Are you pleased with the returns in the financial markets, such as bonds or CD's? Will these instruments meet your long term goals? If your answers point you to investment real estate, please give me a call. You can reach me, Don Ricedorff at The Wells Group, 970-375-7014, e-mail me at don@frontier.net, or visit me on the web at durangorealproperty.com.

Don Ricedorff is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Colorado, and he has numerous real estate designations including CCIM (commercial real estate), CRS, CRB, GRI, ABR, RSPS, and CIPS. He has 15+ years of real estate experience, and is very involved in the community.

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