{"id":140264,"date":"2026-05-15T18:07:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/15\/what-smart-investors-look-for-before-buying\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T18:09:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:09:53","slug":"what-smart-investors-look-for-before-buying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/15\/what-smart-investors-look-for-before-buying\/","title":{"rendered":"What smart investors look for before buying"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-content\" :class=\"{ 'hidden': $store.proContent.showFullPrompt() }\">\n                            <!-- Table of contents: mobile --><\/p>\n<section class=\"px-4 relative border border-slate-200 mobile-toc lg:hidden\" x-data=\"{open:false}\">\n                    <button x-on:click=\"open = !open\" class=\"flex items-center gap-4 my-2 border-none w-full\"><br \/>\n                        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"h-6 w-6\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M4 8h16M4 16h16\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-semibold text-slate-800 text-base m-0 js-toc-ignore\">in this article<\/p>\n<p>                    <\/button><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Several years ago, I purchased a rental property that passed the &#8220;2% rule&#8221;, where the rent was more than 2% of the purchase price. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I lost money on that property. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Even when the properties <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">cash flow<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Competently, they may still underperform other options on the table. As you step up your game as a real estate investor \u2013 active or passive \u2013 keep an eye on the following when evaluating cash flow and more. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">tax benefits<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some investments provide outstanding cash flows but no tax benefits. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Of course, this isn&#8217;t a deal-breaker. Being aware of it is just a compromise. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, one of my favorite funds pays quarterly distributions at 16%. Our co-investment club has invested in it several times so far, and it has made us regular payments over the years. But we pay taxes on those distributions at our regular income tax rate. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fortunately, we also investigate and invest together in a lot of equity deals, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Such as<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    syndication that <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">come with<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">huge tax exemption<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    This helps offset the taxes on other investments we have made together. <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"justify-center \" x-data=\"{ IabAdad_block_: popAd(('r720x90'), '1') }\" :class=\"IabAdad_block_.linkURL ? 'flex pt-8' : 'hidden'\">\n<div class=\" hidden sm:block\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"block sm:hidden\">\n          <img class=\"m-0\" :src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/IabAdad_block_.r320x50\" :alt=\"IabAdad_block_.r320x50Alt\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hidden cash flow killers<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It is not easy to estimate every expense on paper. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This is why that &#8220;2% rule&#8221; property I mentioned didn&#8217;t actually have cash flow, and I lost money on it. In that case, it was high crime rates, vandalism, high turnover rates and a generally terrible tenant base. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cI want to know what the neighborhood is doing, what the exit options are and how much hidden risk there is inside the deal,\u201d explains professional investor Austin Glanzer. <\/span><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"http:\/\/717homebuyers.com\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">717HomeBuyers.com<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    In conversation with BiggerPockets. \u201cA property may show positive cash flow on paper, but if its condition, taxes, insurance, or tenant base are working against you, the cash flow can quickly disappear.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This is a newbie <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">income investment mistake<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">: The absence of &#8220;invisible&#8221; but very real expenses that can derail a deal. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">unexpected expenses<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I once bought a property but discovered that most of the timber framing behind the walls had rotted. As you can imagine, I didn&#8217;t come out of it unscathed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Noah Glatfelter sees this every day when inspecting homes <\/span><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/yorkhomeperformance.com\/\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">york home display<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. &#8220;Rent may seem good financially, but if the house is unfurnished, poorly insulated, or has outdated mechanics, these issues can turn into tenant complaints, high bills, and future repair costs. Smart investors look at the long-term condition of the property before buying,&#8221; he tells BiggerPockets.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">long term commitment<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As Glatfelter pointed out, cash flow investments are long-term commitments. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">you lose thousands <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Closing Costs That Affect You <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Both<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    On the front and back ends when you sell.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To recover those losses, you have to hold the property for several years of cash flow. And yet, you&#8217;re counting on appreciation to cover those two rounds of closing costs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I don&#8217;t mind <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Long term investment in my portfolio<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I make several investments as a member of my co-investment club <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">nearby<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Five-year commitments.<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But liquidity and time commitment <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Are they still doing<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    factor in <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">investment<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Decisions, and some growth-oriented investments, require less time.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<aside class=\"my-10 xl:my-4\">\n<p class=\"font-bold mt-0 mb-4 text-xl text-slate capitalize\">You might also like<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, we are considering a preferred equity investment that will not last more than three years. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It will not pay any distribution but will likely <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">make payment<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    more than 20% <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">annual return<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Due to the extremely low cost base alone.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some deals are even smaller than that. I have invested in the first six month note. But investing on different timeframes is one of my many ways <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Diversify my portfolio<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Because I invest $2,500-$5,000 at a time with other members of my co-investment club. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">multiple exit options<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Often, cash flow investing has only one exit option: selling to another cash flow investor. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That \u201c2% rule\u201d property I mentioned? I could not sell that property to any home buyer. No one in that neighborhood qualified for a mortgage. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Safe investing allows multiple exit strategies. For example, in my club, we are looking at <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">partnership<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    With a typical investor who purchases properties for tenant-buyers who first make a large down payment, then sign lease-purchase agreements. Cash flow into the properties is healthy, but more importantly, the operator remains ahead no matter what. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If the tenant buys, the operator earns margin. If they default, the operator evicts them and retails the property, and still comes out ahead because the tenant has forfeited their large upfront payment. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Market fundamentals matter<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you buy property in markets with weak population growth, employment and community pride and values, you will get weak returns \u2013 no matter what the pro forma looks like on paper. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dan Ohlen, a professional investor, explains, &#8220;Sometimes the best deal is not the one that has the most cash flow on day one, but the one that is in an area where both the buyer and renter want to live for the long term.&#8221; <\/span><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sellmydallashousefast.com\/\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">sell my dallas house fast<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When talking to BiggerPockets. &#8220;Investors need to think about long-term demand, appreciation, repair risk, taxes, insurance and how easy it will be to sell if their plans change. High demand offers more than one way to win.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">it<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Which brings us back to several exit strategies. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cash flow lives or dies on property management<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Income investments, whether active or passive, depend on asset management for their performance. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I have seen good asset management rescue deals that otherwise went awry. I have seen bad property management ruin good deals. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When our co-investment club puts together a deal, one of the first questions we ask is, \u201cWho will manage this asset, and how many assets are they already managing for you?\u201d <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I don&#8217;t care about it <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Management is in-house or outsourced \u2013 I care whether the operator has worked with the same property management team for a number of years<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Many deals.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This is why I love investing with land flippers. They make strong profits without the need for property management: &#8220;No tenants, toilets or termites,&#8221; as they like to say. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Our club lent a note at 15% interest a year or two ago to a land flipper who put up his primary residence as collateral at a 55% LTV. He has never missed a payment, as he enjoys huge margins with minimal headaches. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">important role of financing <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Deals usually fail for one of two reasons: the operator either runs out of money or time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You don&#8217;t need to remind me of all the operators who have lost money <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Property<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    After 2022 because they financed them <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">temporary interest<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Loan.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Their cash flow became negative and they ran out of money. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But others got into trouble because they ran out of time. Even though their property cash flowed, their short-term bridge loans came due, and they found themselves unable to sell or refinance due to high interest rates and cap rates. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s worth repeating: The deals still lost money, even if they were loss-making. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">cash flow<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Have your cake and eat it, too?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some deals cash flow well when you hold them and then end up making great profits when they sell. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A few years ago, our co-investment club invested in an industrial seller-leaseback deal that paid a solid 6% distribution while we owned it. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">after this it stopped <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">two and a half<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Year <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    great profit, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">make total payment<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    annual <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">internal rate of return<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    (IRR) 27.6%.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Oh, and we got a pretty nice tax benefit on it too. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On behalf of multifamily, we invested in a portfolio of properties <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">which were geographically<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Spread <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Outside<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and operator <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">scored runs<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    an excellent price <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Them.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Within six months, they were paying over 9% in distributions, and when they sell in a few years we&#8217;ll be earning over 20% annual returns on them too. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Of course, cash flow matters. I love <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">high-yield investments<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    And seeing those passive income deposits in my bank account. I once took my daughter to the Amazon rainforest and kept the expense entirely to myself <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">passive investing<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Income from that month. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But cash flow isn&#8217;t everything. Look at each deal holistically, whether you invest actively or passively. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">proceed pro forma <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">See<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Factor in long-term property expenses, market demand, and exit options, and your investments should find a profitable path forward, even when life has its ups and downs. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">on them<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>in this article Several years ago, I purchased a rental property that passed the &#8220;2% rule&#8221;, where the rent was more than 2% of the purchase price. I lost money on that property. Even when the properties cash flow Competently, they may still underperform other options on the table. As you step up your game<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":140269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[2416,1219,738],"class_list":["post-140264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-daily-bread","tag-buying","tag-investors","tag-smart"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140264"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140270,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140264\/revisions\/140270"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}