Saturday, April 18, 2009

Risk Management

Risk Management

Management and evaluation of risk is a major part of any successful real estate investment strategy. Risk occurs in many different ways at every stage of the investment process. Below is a tabulation of some common risks and typical risk mitigation strategies used by real estate investors.

Risk Mitigation Strategy
Fraudulent sale Verify ownership, purchase title insurance
Adverse possession Obtain a boundary survey from a licensed surveyor
Environmental contamination Obtain environmental survey, test for contaminants (lead paint, asbestos, soil contaminants, etc.)
Building component or system failure Complete full inspection prior to purchase, perform regular maintenance
Overpayment at purchase Obtain third-party appraisals and perform discounted cash flow analysis as part of the investment pro forma, do not rely on capital appreciation as the primary source of gain for the investment
Cash shortfall Maintain sufficient liquid or cash reserves to cover costs and debt service for a period of time,
Economic downturn Purchase properties with distinctive features in desirable locations to stand out from competition, control cost structure, have tenants sign long term leases
Tenant destruction of property Screen potential tenants carefully, hire experienced property managers
Underestimation of risk Carefully analyze financial performance using conservative assumptions, ensure that the property can generate enough cash flow to support itself

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