Historically, real estate has been a preferred investment vehicle due to its attractive combination of stable value and high return possibilities. However, for newcomers, real estate investing can seem like a maze that’s impossible to navigate.
Investing in property can be a prudent and lucrative decision due to the high yields and long-term growth it can provide. However, many investors are left with a simple question: where should one begin? The fundamentals of real estate investing are laid out in this primer, which covers topics including prospect analysis, securing funding, and asset management.
Trusts that Invest in Real Estate
If you want to get into real estate without the effort and cost of buying a property, invest in a REIT.
“REIT” refers to businesses owning, managing, or financing real estate assets. They hold a diversified portfolio of assets, similar to that of a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund. Shareholders of a investment trust (REIT) are entitled to a distribution of the trust’s income.
The most common form of REIT, equity REITs, enables investors to pool their capital to purchase, develop, and manage real estate assets. Apartment buildings, hospitals, hotels and shopping centres are just a few examples of real estate types that a REIT specialises in. Investors are entitled to receive dividend payments equal to 90% of the company’s annual net income.
A major selling advantage of REITs is that they can be bought and sold on public stock markets. That’s right; with a REIT, you can invest in real estate with the convenience and liquidity of the stock market.
REITs are investment trusts that produce income, typically through rent and lease payments. REITs are pass-through organisations. Therefore, they don’t pay corporate tax, which attracts investors. As a result, their investors might expect greater profits.
Crowdfunding for Real Estate
Crowdfunding for real estate is a way for companies to raise capital from a large number of individuals. To this end, the real estate sector has turned to online marketplaces as a means of connecting with and attracting new investors. If the development project is successful, investors will receive regular payments (either monthly or quarterly) and if it fails, they will be repaid with either debt or equity in the company.
Crowdfunding sites for real estate are not always accessible: Many are only available to “accredited investors” or those with a high net worth or extensive investing experience. Some services allow you to register an account and choose a portfolio strategy based on your goals, with brokers diversifying your money over various investment funds or exploring and selecting investments yourself, tracking their development through a 24/7 online dashboard.
Crowdfunding offerings, notwithstanding their practicality, are not without significant dangers. When compared to publicly traded instruments like stocks, private investments like this tend to be less liquid. Think of this investment as a long-term commitment for your money.
Real Estate Limited Partnerships
A real estate limited partnership (RELP) lets investors pool their funds to buy, lease, develop, and sell properties that would be difficult to manage or afford alone.
Similar to real estate investment trusts (REITs), real estate limited partnerships (RELPs) own and manage a portfolio of properties. First and foremost, RELPs are not publicly listed because they are a type of private equity.
Instead, they have a limited lifespan, usually between seven and twelve years. RELPs design a business plan, find properties to buy, develop, manage, and sell, and disperse earnings during this tenure.
Become a Landlord
Buying a property and leasing it out in whole or in part is a tried-and-true method of real estate investment. There are numerous ways to play the role of landlord.
The first is to invest in a single-family rental home, which will only be profitable if operating expenses are minimal. You’re losing money if your rent doesn’t cover your mortgage, insurance, taxes, and maintenance costs. Your mortgage payment should remain relatively stable each month as rent increases, allowing you to keep more hard-earned cash as time goes on.
Online rental property sites allow sellers of vacant homes ready for tenants to display their properties, expedite the buying process, and appoint a property manager to the new buyer.
Another choice is “house-hacking,” in which the buyer lives in one apartment while renting out the others in a multi-unit structure. This plan cuts down on overhead while also earning money for things like a mortgage, taxes, and insurance.
Buying and Selling Houses
In certain cases, the buyer intends to perform renovations and resell the property. Although “flipping” is typically portrayed as simple on television, it is one of the most labour-intensive and expensive real estate investment strategies.
Flippers may expect unexpected complications, budget hikes, time-consuming mistakes, extended renovation times, and market issues.
It’s crucial to assemble a reliable group of professionals, such as builders, decorators, lawyers, and accountants. And save some money for when things go wrong. Even for seasoned flippers, the time and money required to complete a project always exceed initial estimates.
Conclusion
Real estate investing is easier than you think, and several methods exist. Real estate crowdfunding, limited partnerships, and investment trusts are pure investment bets that don’t require management. Each reduces what would otherwise be a high-stakes gamble when funding a huge project without outside help.
