| This depends on your
goals, the area, the market, etc. Many people hold the real estate until they
double in value. Others hold them until the mortgage is paid off.
Still others hold them for a specified period such as 7 or 10
years. Some investors don’t sell at all unless the neighborhood peaks
out and values start to go down. You would be smart to monitor real
estate values on a consistent basis. This is not to say you should panic and
sell every time there is a little glitch in the market. But if the area
has started going down while other areas are going up, you may want to
sell and do a 1031 tax free exchange into a property that is
appreciating better. Some investors hold the properties until they
are free and clear (assuming the values are stable). They can then sell
them by taking a down payment and carrying the mortgage themselves. This
can provide them with a good, stable cash flow for many years. |
