Though most people think of real estate investment purely in terms of single-family homes, it is actually a very diverse field. One of the most interesting and profitable areas of real estate investment is luxury property investment. However, investing in luxury real estate is very different from investing in normal properties. Here are a few of the factors that differentiate luxury property from other areas of the market.

Customer Specificity
One of the largest differences between luxury and standard properties is the fact that the buyer market for high-end real estate is much smaller. Only a certain type of customer with a certain type of budget will be willing and able to purchase a luxury property. While this doesn’t keep luxury properties from being extremely profitable, it can make it harder for investors to find a buyer or renter.

Higher Capital Requirements
Because of the much higher prices involved, investors need significantly more money to break into the luxury property market than the normal housing market. As a rule, this means that only experienced investors will decide to make the jump to luxury properties. Newer investors with large amounts of capital, however, may be able to move directly into this market without establishing themselves in mid-range real estate first.

Competition
The smaller buying market for higher-end properties also produces a higher degree of competition among both real estate investors and luxury real estate brokers. If you break into the luxury property market, expect to have to compete for every sale. Each buyer will be extremely selective and will readily do business with your competition over you if your properties and prices aren’t just right.

Geographic Distribution
The final challenge for real estate investors looking at luxury properties is that they are typically clustered in and around larger cities. If you are an investor from a smaller community, your market probably has very few luxury real estate opportunities. Of course, you can always expand your operations into a nearby city, but it may be hard getting started without an established base in that community.

If you’re thinking of getting into luxury real estate, these are a few of the challenges you might face. However, don’t let them discourage you. There’s plenty of money to be made investing in higher-end properties, and every investor who has ever gotten into that market has had to deal with exactly these challenges.

Why Investing in Luxury Properties Has Its Own Game Plan by Anica Oaks | Realty Biz News