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Investing in a property in a college town or an urban area dominated by a university can prove to be a highly profitable strategy, only if you make the right decisions. From planning your rental property to property management strategy, you must first understand the difference between renting to a student population and renting to the public.
Before we get started, if you would like to see how student rentals can be financed and purchased easily and successfully, all you need to do is click the link below to book a free strategy call with our team at LendCity.
A Potentially Untapped Sector
Investing in student rental housing could offer you a one-of-a-kind investment opportunity, allowing you to tap into a market segment that only a few other investors in your area are aware of. In addition, purchasing student-oriented real estate, when done correctly, generates a consistent revenue stream with frequent opportunities to add value.
However, it should be taken into account that, in comparison to conventional rentals, owning and maintaining a student rental property often necessitates a more practical approach. Moreover, there will be occasions in the year that filling your property would be difficult. Plus, you will also have to come up with unusual lease agreements.
Properties in college towns or university suburbs are also in high demand. But to break into the market, you will have to pay a premium if you believe that student property is a good match for your overall investment plan and personal investment goals; carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of owning one.
Investing in Student Rental Upsides
Renting to students is smarter approach to charge consistent rentals and deal with a steady stream of tenants. The advantages of renting property to a student population offer various benefits and include the following:
High level of Appreciation
The high degree of Appreciation that investment property in a college-dominated community or city is likely to receive is one of the key advantages. And when national markets undergo a slowdown, college towns are relatively one of the most insulated markets, meaning that they are less likely to devalue.
A Large Number of Potential Tenants
When you buy an investment property in a college town or university suburb, you gain immediate access to a vast population of student rentals that are actively looking for new places to live in. As a result, you can place your property to meet their requirements.
Stability and Increase in Rent
Nowadays, the majority of universities are working to improve their educational setup and expand their student populations. Meanwhile, much of the real estate in the vicinity of the universities have already been constructed. As a result, you will find yourself better positioned to charge rising rents and with ease.
Desired Localities
If you can get a property within walking distance of a university, you will be in a prime spot. This will accelerate the appreciation of your property and will enable you to charge higher rents.
Investing in Student Rental Downsides
When you invest in student rental real estate, you expose yourself to various risks that are not present in more conventional property rental opportunities. Mentioned below are just a few of the significant disadvantages you might face if you start renting to students.
Higher Level of Revenue
The fact that student housing has a high turnover rate is one of the most significant disadvantages. Since students always leave campus at the end of each term, you will have to find new tenants every four to nine months.
Challenging Seasons
It can be challenging to find tenants to rent your property to while classes are not in session. This is especially true in smaller cities, where the local university serves as both a primary employer and a primary educational institution.
Potential Misuse of Property
College students are known for being rough in their living quarters. Because of the frequent ins and outs of students and the long hours associated with the modern lifestyle, your property is much more likely to sustain significant harm when hosting the student community.
Experience in Property Management
Renting out a student investment property generates far from passive profits, as compared to conventional rentals. As a matter of fact, when managing university accommodation, you are far more likely to have a hands-on approach to property management. Roommate conflicts, noisy occupants, and other issues can cause a significant headache.
Discover Residential Property Management With This Step By Step Guide
Reduce your risk investing in student rentals
Intelligent investors may implement various innovative strategies to alleviate the danger they are taking on by investing in student housing. Here are a few methods to minimize the risks associated with student housing investments.
Craft an Ingenious Lease Agreement
The first place to look for precautions and guarantees is in your contract. The importance of a well-crafted lease agreement in student housing cannot be overstated. You should need parental co-signers on all contracts you issue at your property because most students would not have a long credit history. This provides a layer of responsibility and acts as a guarantor, ensuring that the rent is paid on time and in full.
Divide Utilities Amongst Tenants
Subdivide the utilities at your house, if you are not already, so that each occupant is responsible for paying his share of water, gas, and electricity bills. This will help you avoid future tenant disputes over high utility bills and lessen your responsibility for excessive water and energy bills.
Appoint a Resident Assistant
Consider hiring a resident assistant to live on-site and police student conduct to ensure that your tenants behave suitably and that your property is not at the risk of any serious harm. The mere existence of a managerial authority on-site will significantly reduce the likelihood of bad conduct happening in the first place.
Make Clear and Concise Rules
Consider all the possible happenings that may occur at your property when drafting your lease agreements. And even if you believe that it is self-evident that certain practices are prohibited, make sure to include them in your lease papers. For example, prohibit the illegal use of drugs, create “quiet hours,” prohibit water guns, and the like. Make it clear to the students to whom you are renting out property what you expect from them.
For intelligent real estate investors searching for their next purchase, student housing can be a great option. First, however, it is necessary to recognize the difficulties that come with owning a property that caters to the needs of college students.
Buying an investment property in a college town or nearby locality may provide a high return on investment due to appreciation and the passive income generated by charging rent.
Work with a Student Rental Friendly Mortgage Broker
When your looking to purchase a student rental you will find that most lenders will not finance them.
We recommend you contact us LendCity Mortgages as we have multiple lenders that will finance a student rental. We can be contacted from the link above or by calling 1-519-960-0370. Alternatively, you can click the link below for a free strategy call today.