The fear that comes with buying your first home is real. The trepidation and beating heart, the sweaty palms and constant questions of 'should I do this' are even more when you want to buy your first rental property.

When Richard saw the ad online, 'Apartment for sale in Dubai' he felt his heart leap for joy. He wanted to invest in Dubai's lucrative real estate market, and he felt now was the time to do it. Richard had been in contact with some Dubai real estate agencies but hadn't settled for one yet. But the ad he saw felt right. "Finally," he said, "I'll invest in real estate."

After some research, he found out the house was a rental property. Now his fear doubled. “What if this is a bad investment?” “What if nobody rents the house?”

If you are like Richard, a first-time investor in Real estate, then this post is for you.

We would be giving you five insightful tips for less stress first rental property.

Buying your first rental property, whether it’s a new project by DAMAC or one of the new apartments for sale in Downtown Dubai, should not be a problem if you follow these tips.

1: Do your research:

When you are investing in rental properties for the first time, depending solely on 'what you were told' won't cut it. Take courses, read books, attend seminars; learn the ropes yourself. Know what the market holds and how to navigate through it. For your first rental property investment, make sure the house is in your area. That way, you know what you're going into economically. It also helps you make a better-informed decision on the house to buy as well as the price to pay.

2: Don't rely solely on real estate agents:

Even if you have hired the services of top real estate brokers in Dubai to help with the process of buying the house, do not rest of on your oars. Do your marketing to get motivated sellers.

3: Get the proper financing and cash flow:

Know what maintenance and repairs and mortgage would cost you. Of course, the lease would take more cash from you. Know the interest rates, the taxes you'll pay and the likes. If you have a strong credit history, you might get a lower interest rate.

4: Know which houses will be easy to rent out and how much:

Visit other homes that are similar to the one you want to invest in. Check out their prices and the unique things that make them better than the one you want to buy. Checking similar houses would give you better information on whether or not the house can be easily rented out and how much people are willing to pay.

5: Lock in Equity at the closing table:

Before buying a home, know the price other similar homes are going for, then buy at a 10-20% less the market value. Never buy a house at the exact market value! Purchasing less than the market price would help you cushion any slump in the market price in the future.