If you’re thinking about buying a condominium investment property, market conditions are definitely in your favour. While the resale housing market has seen a tremendous amount of activity from first-time buyers in the past year, it’s also a perfect time for existing homeowners to invest in secondary residential properties.

With record-low interest rates and significantly lower prices it’s hard to go wrong – unless, of course you lack the financial means to make the investment. After all, you have to be ready to meet all the obligations that come with owning more than your principal property. For instance, keep in mind that if you intend to rent out the second property, you’ll also have to be prepared to deal with tenants and handle maintenance costs.

Leverage

Secondary home ownership is an attractive investment option because it gives you even more leverage than you have with your principal residence. Leverage is when a relatively small amount of your money controls a much larger asset – like a property. The more leveraged you are, the greater the financial return on your down payment becomes if the value of your property increases. There are very few other investments which can be purchased with such a small percentage of your own money.

Comparing Cash with Leverage Investment

By comparison, let’s say you were to buy a term investment of $80,000 (in cash) for one year and it increased by $8,000 (10%) over the course of the first year. Since it cost you $80,000 in cash to buy it, the return on your investment is only ten per cent before taxes. Obviously, leveraging is a powerful way to make your money work for you.

Getting Financing

You should be aware that many lenders place non-owner occupied deals in the high-risk category and it’s not that unusual to find lenders who will not finance rental units at all – or those who will only finance them if they are insured. Obviously, lenders will want to know whether the property will carry itself. (Is there sufficient rent to cover the mortgage payment?)

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that a rental income of $2000 per month will carry a mortgage payment of $2000 per month. Only a portion of the rent is used to pay the mortgage; the remainder must cover taxes, maintenance, vacancy, bad debt and expenses. (Many inexperienced purchasers think that owning rental properties will allow them to “get rich quickly” and when this does not happen, the owner becomes disillusioned and loses interest in the property.)

Costs

You should also be aware that the cost of obtaining a mortgage (for legal and appraisal fees) on a non-owner occupied property can be higher than the cost of obtaining a mortgage on an owner-occupied property, when more than one unit – such as a duplex or triplex is involved. Interest rates charged on rental properties might also be higher because some lenders view these properties as being a higher risk.

As mentioned above, the main responsibility of having a second property is being able to carry it financially. And if you’re like most people, you’ll probably have to rent it to someone as a result. This is also a great deal of responsibility because you will have to maintain the property in addition to your own principal residence, and you’ll be responsible for finding tenants who you trust and feel comfortable with.

Some parents with grown children ready to go off to university or college choose to purchase secondary properties for their offspring to live in while they attend school. This gives them an excellent investment and they are assured that the occupants will take good care of the home.

If you’d like more information about purchasing a investment condominium, consult a REALTOR^® .

Source: Ontario Real Estate Association-OREA

Thinking of investing in condominium in Mississauga

Say, you plan investing in condominium and  buy a 1 BR condominium property in a decent building in Mississauga Square One area with 20% down payment. In today’s market, rent will almost carry monthly expenses including- mortgage, property taxes and condo fees.

Your investment condo, will be able to carry itself financially, and you won’t be out of pocket. Your tenant will also be responsible to pay for his/her own hydro; if applicable and the condominium unit owner’s insurance.

If you opted for a five year mortgage term, at the end of the term your new mortgage payments will be much lower, this may relate into higher positive cash flow depending upon other factors like prevailing interest rates after five years, condo fees, property taxes and property management costs.

As an investor you will be able deduct rental expenses from your rental income. Rental expenses can include interest portion of your mortgage payment, condominium fees, property taxes, property management fees, repairs, cleaning, maintenance, supplies and other miscellaneous costs.

If you are thinking to investing in condominium apartment or a townhouse in West Mississauga or Mississauga Square One, the market in very much landlord friendly. I can offer you my services of buying, selling, renting and mortgage approval.