One of the questions we get the most at Mashvisor is about how to analyze real estate deals. So, if you are a beginner real estate investor, you might want to stick around for a full step-by-step guide on analyzing an investment property deal.

The process of analyzing real estate deals did not come easily even to the top real estate investors in the market. As a beginner, you will have to attend a few open houses, look up a few investment properties for sale online, and perform a real estate investment analysis before you get to the perfect property deal for you. Sure enough, after a while, you’ll be able to sense a good real estate deal from a distance.

In this guide, I am going to go through everything that has to do with real estate deal analysis from analyzing the location all the way to the rental property analysis. So, let’s get started:

1. Conduct Location Analysis

First things first. I can’t possibly start teaching you how to analyze real estate deals without talking about location. In fact, this is where your first step to success starts. In terms of location, there are two main steps:

First: You pick a location

Of course, this step is based on your investment goals. However, the dilemma for most real estate investors is whether to invest locally or go with out-of-state real estate investing. For each option, there are pros and cons. Therefore, before you continue learning how to analyze real estate deals, read Investing in Houses for Sale Near Me vs. Out of State Real Estate Investing to help you decide.

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Second: You start analyzing

This step is all about the real estate market analysis. What it means is that you must look into the housing market in your area of choice. You look for appreciation rates, rental demand, and the rental strategy that the market supports the best. Moreover, it means that you will have to look into the market trends which took place in the past and are expected to take place in the future. For this, you’ll need access to predictive analytics and other types of real estate data.

Related: How to Choose the Right Location for Rental Properties

2. Calculate Cash Flow 

After you’ve analyzed the location and made sure it is profitable, it is time to move on to the investment property analysis. You’ll have to set criteria for the investment property you want (neighborhood location, property type, number of bedrooms, etc.) and make a list of a few of those that are for sale and then perform a cash flow analysis on each one. But how to analyze real estate deals through cash flow?

The easiest way to define cash flow is to say that it is the rental income minus all property expenses. So, if we were talking about a rental property that generates $1000 in monthly rental income, then the cash flow is that amount minus any bills and expenses you pay on a regular and irregular basis.

Now, why bother performing cash flow analysis? Because positive cash flow means that you are making money even after deducting all property expenses. A negative cash flow, on the other hand, means that you’re losing money which you want to avoid.

What else affects a property’s cash flow?

The rental occupancy rate is one consideration you must keep in mind when learning how to analyze real estate deals. It refers to the percentage of days/ year your rental property is occupied- the higher, the better. Understand that this evaluation aspect has a huge impact on the cash flow and the return on investment in general. How can you find a reliable occupation rate estimate? Stay around for the last section to learn about the one tool that will help you find out the occupancy rate for your optimal rental strategy before buying investment property!

Stop asking how to find real estate deals with positive cash flow and start finding them!

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3. Analyze the Capitalization Rate

The next step in how to analyze real estate deals is to assess the capitalization rate. After you’ve computed the cash flow, you multiply it by 12 to get the net operating income (NOI). You take that value and divide it by the property price. The percentage you are left with is the return on an investment relative to the overall property price on an annual basis. To learn if the number you get makes for a good real estate deal, read: What’s a Good Cap Rate for Investment Properties?

4. Analyze the Cash on Cash Return

After you are done with the cap rate, you go straight to analyzing the cash on cash return. The major difference here is that you need to divide the net operating income by the amount of money you paid in cash. In other words, investment property financing is excluded from the formula.

Now, the cash on cash return is best for beginner real estate investors for various reasons. First of all, it is a very simple formula and is easy to understand. It is also a quick way to assess a real estate deal to get a general idea of its potential. Finally, it assists a real estate investor with their financial leverage choices. Learn what good cash on cash return is here.

5. Run a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis)

A CMA is very important for a beginner when he/she is trying to learn how to analyze real estate deals. The process is based on a comparison between your property of choice and other similar properties which were sold in that same neighborhood (real estate comps).

This process is important for real estate investors because it looks into the property price. First of all, it helps them avoid overpriced real estate. You can even perform a comparative market analysis to find below market value properties which can make for a great real estate investment. Finally, it assists them in understanding the market better by examining other property transactions.

Learn How to Find Real Estate Comps in 2019: 4 Different Ways

How to Analyze Real Estate Deals with Mashvisor’s Help

Analyzing real estate deals is a no brainer with Mashvisor. We are dedicated to helping beginner investors acquire necessary education on how to analyze real estate deals. Moreover, we help beginner and seasoned real estate investors make money in the business. We have made it our mission to provide all the real estate tools necessary for that purpose.

Mashvisor’s property finder tool and the investment property calculator are the best tools to avoid a bad real estate deal. The property finder is what you need to find lucrative properties for sale based on Airbnb and traditional rental occupancy rates and return on investment measures. On the other hand, an investment property calculator is essential for any in-depth analysis involving property expenses and more specific calculations like the cash on cash return and cap rate. The combination of both tools will guarantee a thorough analysis of even the tiniest detail associated with a real estate investment property.

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