The Steps of
Rental Property Investment

Defining an investment strategy is essential to ensuring a high-quality real estate project. Of course, knowing what to look for and where is important, but a rental investment goes far beyond that. First, you need to ask yourself whether you prioritize security or return. In general, the more secure an investment is, the lower its yield. A solid project requires a clearly defined set of criteria:

• Understanding taxation in existing properties: While the Pinel law is well known for new builds, there are several tax schemes for existing properties that you can benefit from, such as the LMNP status, property deficit, or the Denormandie tax incentive.
  
  
• Choosing your real estate investment vehicle: The choice of vehicle should stem from your investment strategy — not the other way around. You may choose to invest under your own name, through an SCI, a family SARL, a SASU, or a SAS.
  
  
• Selecting the location: One of the most critical steps is identifying the area that best matches your investor profile and offers strong rental demand.

• Defining the type of property: Apartment building, student studio, 2- or 3-room apartment, large property for shared housing, or a unit suitable for short-term rentals. Which type best fits your investment goals?

Depending on your goal, the financial strategy to implement will differ. If you're aiming to generate immediate income, you'll need to focus on a strategy that minimizes your monthly payments. On the other hand, if your objective is to build long-term wealth, the aim is to reduce the remaining loan balance over a set time horizon in order to maximize the equity built by the end of the investment.

This is why structuring your financing is a crucial part of any rental investment. All additional loan-related costs must be factored in (notary fees, interest, etc.). To get started on the right foot, request a mortgage simulation.

As an investor, don’t forget to include in your business plan the various costs associated with putting the property on the rental market: non-recoverable service charges, certain renovation expenses, and property management fees if you outsource rental management.

At Mon Chasseur Immo, we work directly with mortgage brokers and banks to negotiate the best financing terms for your profile — interest rates, deferred payments in case of renovation, 110% financing, insurance delegation, choice of guarantee provider, and more. Our experts are here to help you find the solutions best suited to your needs, ensuring a financially optimized investment. With our service, your project will gain both profitability and peace of mind.

• Finding the best opportunity: Searching for a rental investment is no easy task — and it can be extremely time-consuming (an average of 160 hours)! You need to know where to look for listings and how to fine-tune your search online to avoid missing out on opportunities.
  
  
• Qualifying a property: This is the time to assess the property over the phone by asking the right questions — to avoid unnecessary visits — and to calculate its potential return. If the property is a good investment, it won’t stay on the market for long. So, be responsive!
  
  
• Visiting effectively: Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the properties you visit. Even if it doesn’t impact your daily life, it's crucial to understand your asset's value and limitations, especially with resale in mind.
  
  
• Making an offer, with or without negotiation: Negotiating is above all about having a solid strategy based on objective arguments.

Negotiation is a key — and often complex — step. Your property hunter is there to save you from the added stress and act in your best interest. As a seasoned negotiator, they know exactly which arguments to use and will help you draft a strong offer after assessing the room for negotiation.

The quality of renovation work is a key factor in optimizing your rental occupancy rate, and therefore your profitability. Well-executed and relevant renovations help reduce tenant turnover. In the long run, you’ll also save money, as proper maintenance and quality work prevent costly future refurbishments.

Renovation work is also a smart way to boost your returns and enjoy tax benefits:

• It’s a requirement for eligibility under the Denormandie tax incentive.
• Under the LMNP real regime, renovation expenses are tax-deductible.
• For unfurnished rentals, renovation costs can be deducted from your rental income.

With  our 360° solution, there’s no need to search for the right renovation contractor! With our service, pricing is pre-negotiated, deadlines are met, workmanship is flawless, guarantees are reinforced, and progress is tracked digitally — all thanks to our handpicked renovation partners.

A furnished rental must meet specific requirements and include a minimum set of furniture to be officially recognized as such.

By working with a professional, furnishing your property becomes hassle-free. They will carefully select furniture that enhances the value of your investment. An optimized furnishing setup helps your property stand out from the competition and ensures a strong occupancy rate. The sooner your property is ready, the sooner you’ll start receiving rent.

If you use a furnishing service, it’s often possible to include the cost in your mortgage, as furnishing invoices can be treated like renovation expenses by lenders.

With our 360° service, order your furniture pack in just one click and furnish your rental in 24 hours — ready to welcome tenants right away! Once again, we’ve partnered with the best furnishing providers, offering fully customizable packages at pre-negotiated prices.

PNO insurance (Non-Occupant Landlord Insurance) is designed to protect you and provide comprehensive coverage in case of accidents or damage. While tenants are legally required to have renter’s insurance, there are several situations where PNO insurance fills important gaps:

• If damage occurs while the property is vacant.
• If the incident is not the tenant’s responsibility.
• If the claim amount exceeds the tenant’s insurance coverage.
• If a loss occurs during a short-term rental.
• If the tenant is injured due to the property (furniture or structure).

With our 360° service, we’ve negotiated the best PNO insurance deals for you — combining great coverage with highly competitive rates!

Rental management begins once the property is ready to rent, but before it is occupied. It includes the entire process of marketing the property, changing tenants, managing the lease, and overseeing the property (your asset) throughout the rental period. The list of tasks is long: creating and publishing listings, reviewing tenant applications, drafting the lease agreement, conducting the move-in inspection, and more.

With our 360° service, there's no need to search for the right rental management agency or spend time managing things yourself! We work with expert partners who maximize your occupancy rates while securing your investment with thorough tenant screening and tailored guarantees — such as rent default insurance (GLI). We've also negotiated preferential rates to help you boost your profitability.

Proper tax management is essential to making your rental investment a true success. Even with excellent profitability, your return can quickly decrease or become less attractive without proper tax optimization. That’s why there are two key moments for tax planning in the investment process: early on, during the strategy phase, and later, after the purchase, when filing your tax return. Several key elements must be understood:

• Understanding the tax factors that impact your return
• Understanding how rental income is taxed
• Understanding capital gains tax upon resale
• Knowing when to consult a certified accountant
• Understanding the terminology: depreciation, capital gains, etc.

At Mon Chasseur Immo, we help you manage your tax declaration, especially for furnished rentals. A certified accountant supports you to optimize your tax return. We’ve negotiated preferential rates for you. Our expert accounting partner knows all the tax optimization strategies and will guide you through your filing process to help you achieve a notable tax deduction.

It’s important to understand the timeline of a real estate investment project:

• Initial phase (15 to 30 days): defining your strategy, analyzing tax implications, choosing a city, obtaining a mortgage simulation, and creating a detailed project brief.
  
  
• Search phase (on average 3 months): analyzing listings, making calls, attending property visits, and negotiating.
  
  
• Minimum period between signing the preliminary contract and the final deed (2 months): includes the legal pre-emption period, securing financing, and releasing funds.
  
  
• Property setup (around 2 months): renovation work, furnishing, and decorating.
  
  
• Rental process (about 1 month): creating a listing, conducting visits, and selecting the right tenant — unless you work with a property management agency.

In short, from strategy to tenant move-in, expect at least eight months if you’re targeting a property that requires renovation.

Are we ready to take on this challenge for you? Absolutely!