One of the biggest mistakes investors make is not conducting their own thorough due diligence on a property investment. This is where well intentioned investors end up losing money, or worse yet, end up foreclosing and ruining their credit. Investing in property is certainly a risk, but an educated risk will leave little room for a financial loss. After you determine the net operating income, apply the appropriate capitalization rate to arrive at the value. If you’re not sure how to do this, get help. The interest rate can vary depending on the credit score of the borrower, the lender and the real estate involved.