5 Reasons Why Real Estate Is a Good Investment

Reasons Why Real Estate Is a Good Investment

Are you considering investing in real estate? Here is all you need to know about investing in real estate and the reasons why real estate is a good investment. 

Investing in real estate offers numerous benefits. Many people shy away from real estate investments due to misconceptions that they are intimidating or require a large amount of money, which is different.

The sooner you start investing in property, the sooner you can begin building your portfolio. People choose real estate investment as a means to build wealth, as the real estate market tends to be less volatile than the stock market.

Investing in real estate is relatively straightforward, and almost anyone can invest in a property. There are various reasons to invest, regardless of your age, income, or other factors.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 75% of multifamily investors are over the age of 45. Many real estate investors enter the market later in life due to specific fears. Still, more than half of these individuals own over five units and generate income from their properties.

If you are considering investing in real estate in the least and most affordable states, continue reading to understand why real estate investment is a good idea and to dispel any fears you may have.

Here is what you should know about real estate investments. 

1. Appreciation

Real estate investors make money through rental income, as well as any profits generated by property-dependent business activity and appreciation. Real estate values tend to increase over time, and with a good investment, you can turn a profit when it is time to sell. Rent tends to rise over time, resulting in higher cash flows.

Unlike stocks and bonds, you can influence real estate to appreciate. Your property will naturally appreciate on its own. On average, real estate appreciates 3-5% a year without you doing anything, just by maintaining your home. You may also increase the rate of appreciation by making renovations or repairs.

Keep in mind that not all renovations will increase home value, so make sure to work with a licensed appraiser or real estate agent to find out the most valuable renovations you should make to your home. Some renovations can pay you back as much as 80-90% of the money you have invested. These renovations do not have to be major to affect the home's worth.

Home appreciation is linked to population growth, and as our population is growing, you can safely assume a 4% appreciation level. Keep in mind that some years will be better, depending on supply, demand, and costs.

2. Tax Benefits

Real estate investors take advantage of many tax breaks and deductions that can save money at tax time. You can reduce the reasonable cost of owning, operating, and managing a property. 

Like a business owner, real estate investors can make many tax write-offs. The IRS allows investors to deduct expenses involved in their real estate business if they can prove material participation. Expenses that may be eligible include:

• Mortgage interest: If you finance investment properties, you may be able to deduct the interest paid on the mortgage. 
• Depreciation: Real estate investors can often deduct depreciation on properties over their useful life (27.5 years and 39 years)
• Cost of running a business: If you prove you materially participate in the business, you may be able to cut the cost to own, operate, and manage your investment property. 

It also may be important to talk to your tax adviser or any professionals to see if any of these benefits apply to you. 

3. Cash Flow

Cash flow is the net income from a real estate investment after mortgage payments and operating expenses have been made. A key benefit of real estate investing is easily generating cash flow. In many ways, cash flow only gets better over time as you pay down your mortgage and build up your equity. 

If you buy or hold real estate, you earn cash flow monthly, whether you own it or rent it out. This can increase your profits from owning the real estate, as you are not relying only on appreciation but also on rental income.

It may seem daunting to buy an investment in real estate and find a way to manage the property, but there are many resources out there to help you maximize your earnings when owning a property.

One of the largest benefits of investing in real estate is earning income and cash from your property. You can use the cash earned to build a larger real estate portfolio, pay monthly expenses, or save for other financial goals just because you own a property.

4. Build Wealth

Paying off a property mortgage allows you to build equity, which is an asset that contributes to your net worth. As your equity grows, you gain leverage to purchase more properties, increase cash flow, and build even more wealth.

With each mortgage payment made, you reduce your mortgage and increase your equity. A portion of your payment goes toward reducing the principal, and the shorter the loan period, the faster you will build equity.

Real estate investment involves acquiring properties or real estate assets to generate income and build wealth over time. Real estate investments like commercial buildings offer tangible assets that provide ongoing income through rental payments and appreciation over time.

There are many ways to invest in real estate to build wealth. Many people aim to create wealth to ensure financial security for future generations. Real estate has been one of the most reliable ways for people to earn money and build equity over time.

5. Real Estate Investment

A lot of people ask the question, what property is the best to invest in to make the most money, and the issue is there is no good answer. While there is not one way to look into it, there are a couple of things you should consider when you are looking into investing in real estate. 

1. Look for an area that is attractive for renters or with fast-appreciating homes. Location is important, as always. 
2. Make sure the area has all the amenities and conveniences most homeowners are looking for.  
3. Look at the area crime rates, school rating, as well as tax history 
4. Invest in homes that renters want in the area, such as townhomes, condos, and bedrooms. 
5. Pay attention to the prices of recently sold homes and compare them to see the average sales price today and the historical prices. 

Keeping a few things in mind when considering real estate investments is important. Understanding the tips for finding the best real estate investments and reaping all the benefits requires time and research. If you're new to investing, it's best to start step by step and not rush into such a significant commitment.

Sadly, as with everything, there are downsides to investing in real estate. Understanding the downsides can help you make the right choice when you are investing in real estate. Knowing the negatives enables you to make smarter choices and know what to look out for. Here are the cons of investing in real estate. 

No Guarantee

Like any investment, there's no guarantee that a property will appreciate or yield a profit. Many factors influence what happens, including the state of the economy, the demand for housing at the time, and local events. Like most investments, real estate always bounces back in time, so if you wait, you can start to earn that profit. 

Time-Consuming

If you are looking to be a landlord, you have to be a specific person to do so. Being a landlord for a property you own and are renting out, you will need to take away a lot of time and energy to keep up with the property management as well as the tenants involved. At the end of the day, this is your priority, and you need to maintain it in the best way you can to earn those benefits. 

Tough to Get Financing

If you have good credit and a stable income, securing financing for an owner-occupied property is easy. You need a small down payment, and you can usually secure the rest through a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loan. 

On the other hand, if you buy to rent or fix and flip, lenders are not as generous with financing options and tend to have stricter requirements, higher credit scores, lower debt-to-income ratios, and larger down payments, so just be prepared. 

Cash Flow is Not Guaranteed

As mentioned above, there is no guarantee that you will always have tenants as your priority. If your tenants bail on you, the mortgage and expenses will all fall on your shoulders, and you must keep paying even if you are not receiving the rental income. 

In this case, you should be prepared to have a solid emergency fund and be stable in your finances to handle any situation that comes your way. 

Not all investments will end well. It takes time, experience, and a keen eye to identify everything you need and be prepared for any obstacles that come your way. Investing can be rewarding, but being prepared for anything is important.

Methodology

We used information from different sources and our data to create this guide about reasons why real estate is a good investment. There were various data to use, so we put them together to help you understand investing in real estate. 

• U.S. Census Bureau
• Forbes
• Investopedia
• Nerd Wallet

Above are a few sources we used to gather most of our information about reasons why real estate is a good investment. 

FAQS

Why is real estate such a good investment?

On its own, real estate offers many benefits, such as cash flow, tax breaks, equity building, competitive risk-adjusted returns, and a hedge against inflation. There are many other ways why real estate is such a good investment, so if you are interested in doing so, start doing your research now. 

Why is real estate typically a strong investment option?

In general, real estate has a low correlation with other major classes. A real estate investment can provide steady cash flow, substantial appreciation, and many other advantages, making it a sound investment. 

What are the three most important factors in real estate investments?

If you are investing, you should be aware of three ways to make money on your real estate investments: loans, appreciation, and rent. To achieve these, you need to look out for three things: price, condition, and availability.

Reasons Why Real Estate Is a Good Investment - The Bottom Line

Real estate can help diversify your portfolio. In general, real estate has a low correlation with other major asset classes, so when stocks are down, real estate is up. A real estate investment can be beneficial for many reasons, such as steady cash flow, sustainable appreciation, tax advantages, and more.

Just like investing in anything else, it is important to consider certain factors before you invest in real estate, including what to do when it's time to sell the rental property. Regardless of the size of the investment, you can make a return and build your income and wealth.

It is important not to buy the first investment that comes along but to buy the best one. Pick one you are comfortable with and that will give you more of a chance to make small mistakes without losing a lot of money. Finding the right investment takes time, so do not rush into it; you will benefit from many things. 

If you are considering moving or selling, contact us or visit our website. Our team at Raleigh Realty is here to help you with any home buying or selling needs.