Saturday, January 03, 2009

Baton Rouge Real Estate - A Rental Investment Opportunity

If the capital and largest city in Louisiana beckons, that means you must be looking at Baton Rouge real estate. Located along the Mississippi River, the area enjoys hot summers and mild winters and the population is a mix of Cajun and Creole, of both Catholic and Baptist religious traditions. Because of the city's three universities, the number of students is high making Baton Rouge real estate a rental investment opportunity.

Regardless of the economy, real estate is still seen as an investment that will pay off over time, as it usually appreciates if maintained properly. Depending on the neighborhood in which you purchase a rental property, your potential return (in terms of rental income and/or resale) can vary greatly. An established area of middle-class homes is fairly risk-free in terms of stability, but might also see lower profit margins. If you do risk investing in a house located in a less affluent neighborhood, there's a real potential that it may develop quite quickly into a desired area of town, but also has a nearly equal chance of remaining static -- or worse -- deteriorating.

Although college and university students abound in Baton Rouge, the most stable renters are families (parents with school age children) and seniors, both of whom tend to rent long-term. Basing your search for rental properties within easy access to schools is one way to target this first segment of renters.

Remember to first ascertain the mortgage loan amount for which you qualify before you start looking at properties, and then aim for a purchase price that is between lower than that figure by between 10 or 20 percent. In other words, if you qualify for a $200,000 mortgage, look for a purchase price of between $160,000 and $180,000. Without exception, pay for a building inspection before you commit to purchase and if there are tenants, speak to them about any complaints or outstanding repairs.

RE/MAX of Louisiana (http://www.remax-louisiana.com/remaxla/default.asp?p=batonrouge-la-real-estate.asp) is a real estate brokerage that specializes in Baton Rouge real estate. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Billings_Farnsworth

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If the capital and largest city in Louisiana beckons, that means you must be looking at Baton Rouge real estate. Located along the Mississippi River, the area enjoys hot summers and mild winters and the population is a mix of Cajun and Creole, of both Catholic and Baptist religious traditions. Because of the city's three universities, the number of students is high making Baton Rouge real estate a rental investment opportunity.

Regardless of the economy, real estate is still seen as an investment that will pay off over time, as it usually appreciates if maintained properly. Depending on the neighborhood in which you purchase a rental property, your potential return (in terms of rental income and/or resale) can vary greatly. An established area of middle-class homes is fairly risk-free in terms of stability, but might also see lower profit margins. If you do risk investing in a house located in a less affluent neighborhood, there's a real potential that it may develop quite quickly into a desired area of town, but also has a nearly equal chance of remaining static -- or worse -- deteriorating.

Although college and university students abound in Baton Rouge, the most stable renters are families (parents with school age children) and seniors, both of whom tend to rent long-term. Basing your search for rental properties within easy access to schools is one way to target this first segment of renters.

Remember to first ascertain the mortgage loan amount for which you qualify before you start looking at properties, and then aim for a purchase price that is between lower than that figure by between 10 or 20 percent. In other words, if you qualify for a $200,000 mortgage, look for a purchase price of between $160,000 and $180,000. Without exception, pay for a building inspection before you commit to purchase and if there are tenants, speak to them about any complaints or outstanding repairs.

RE/MAX of Louisiana (http://www.remax-louisiana.com/remaxla/default.asp?p=batonrouge-la-real-estate.asp) is a real estate brokerage that specializes in Baton Rouge real estate. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Billings_Farnsworth

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