Benefits of Investing In Multifamily Real Estate

benefits of investing in Multifamily Real Estate

You’re considering investing in multifamily real estate. There are several compelling reasons and benefits of investing in multifamily real estate.  you might want to focus on a certain sort of property: the multi-family home, regardless of whether you’re hoping to become the next real estate billionaire or simply need a duplex to help pay your mortgage.

Multifamily real estate, as the name suggests, contains multiple family units within a single structure or complex (as opposed to a single-family dwelling). Although they come with a lot of potential for income and property growth, they also come with additional responsibility and risk.

Let’s discuss the positives of investing in multi-family properties.

What Does Investing In Multifamily Real Estate Consist Of?

Multiple independent dwelling units are combined to form a multi-family home or complex. Each apartment has its own address, a separate entrance, and living spaces from the other units. There are numerous separate households/tenants, but there is only one building owner, who may be a person or a business.

Multifamily properties already make up more than 30% of all housing in the United States, so there is a lot of room for growth as well as opportunities for investment. These kinds of residences serve as income producers for the investor by providing consistent cash flow from the rent the tenants pay. Additionally, there is a chance that the value of the real estate will increase over time.

Types of multi-family buildings

There are many different types of multi-family dwellings, ranging in size from two to 2,000 units. You can invest in a variety of multifamily properties, including: 

  • Triplexes, quadplexes, and duplexes– These properties, in that order, have two, three, or four units. This kind of property might be “house-hacked” by allowing you to live in one unit while renting out the rest. These are frequently eligible for standard mortgages or owner-occupied financing.
  • Apartments – Apartment complexes are multi-unit structures that are owned by a single party.  Usually, management is present. This kind of property requires financing through a business loan.
  • Condominiums –  Although they can also take the form of town- or row houses, condos frequently resemble flats. Contrary to apartments, which are typically rented out, condos are privately owned, while the common areas are shared and overseen by a homeowner’s organization (made up of the condo residents).
  • Mixed-Use – A multifamily building with mixed uses mixes living space with retail, business, leisure, or cultural venues. Housing for students. These complexes, which are located close to institutions, are made with students in mind.
  • Age-Restricted – These kinds of multi-family residences typically only allow those 55 and older to live in them. The structures, amenities, features, and activities are designed with this age range in mind.
  • Income-Restricted –  Those with lesser incomes can purchase a property with the support of subsidised housing. To construct these units, the federal government frequently collaborates with developers. If you make an investment in this kind of real estate, you might be eligible to accept federal housing choice vouchers.

Benefits of Investing In Multifamily Real Estate

Comparing multifamily investment properties with other types of investment properties, there are certain clear advantages.

  • Increase revenue

MultiFamily homes are built to generate income. Each unit’s space is utilized as well as possible to increase renter traffic and revenue. Compared to renting a single-family home, they can provide significantly more income.

  • Quickly increase your real estate portfolio

Multifamily properties could help you amass a significant number of units more effectively if you’re trying to become a serious real estate investor.

It’s much simpler to manage because you can invest in bigger deals and buy more units rapidly, according to Pineda. “You acquire a multi-family property with 20 or even 200 units in one transaction, rather than having to buy and renovate 20 single-family homes and manage 20 distinct loans.”

The Incredible Tax Benefits of Multifamily Investing

  • Strategically boosting the property’s worth

Investors who purchase multi-family real estate also have the chance to benefit from capital growth should they ever decide to sell. Since the value of the property is determined by how much net operational income you have rather than by how much the apartment next door You are rewarded according to how much money you can produce, and there are clever ways to generate income and boost the worth of a property, such as cutting vacancies, raising rents, or improving it.

  • Reduce your living expenses

Investors in multi-family buildings with four units or fewer frequently occupy one of the units, making them eligible for owner-occupied financing (which is similar to a regular residential mortgage and comes with a lower interest rate). Of course, they don’t pay rent (or pay it to themselves).

  • Compared to other investments, less risky

Even during economic downturns, multi-family property often provides investors with predictable cash flow and lower risk. After all, everyone requires a place to live. Recessions have a greater impact on other real estate categories, such as industrial, retail, and office space, so they pose a greater danger.

Related Medical Professionals Are Investing In Multifamily Properties

Conclusion

A unique way to increase your investment portfolio and produce income is through multi-family real estate investing. Now would be a fantastic time to invest in multifamily properties if you were thinking about it! To learn more about our current multifamily investment possibilities, please contact us at Growth capital group if you’re interested in learning how to start investing in multifamily through real estate syndications.

Investing In The Stock Market Vs. Multifamily Real Estate

multifamily real estate Vs stock market

There is no doubt that many people have invested in multifamily real estate to build their wealth over time. Similarly to this, many people have made substantial financial gains through stock market investments. 

Investing In The Stock Market

A stock market is an investment tool that allows you to purchase shares of publicly traded companies. You can buy individual stocks or invest in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). There are many different strategies for investing in the stock market, but they all have one thing in common: They allow you to buy and sell your holdings whenever you want. For example, if you own shares in Coca-Cola (KO), you can sell them whenever the price goes up or down.

Investing In Multifamily Real Estate

Multifamily real estate refers to investing in apartment buildings where more than one family lives. This type of property has historically provided strong returns for investors because of its low vacancy rates and high rents compared with single-family homes and other types of commercial properties. It also provides diversification across multiple tenants within each building, which helps reduce risk overall when compared with owning one property at a time.

Some investors choose to invest in the stock market, while others opt for real estate. But is one better than the other?  Multifamily real estate has several advantages over the stock market:

Low volatility 

The average annual return for multifamily real estate is 4 percent, which means that it doesn’t fluctuate as much as stocks do. This makes multifamily real estate less risky than stocks and more stable as an investment vehicle.

One of the biggest reasons why many people choose to invest in multifamily properties is because they can offer a stable revenue stream over time. When compared with other types of investments like stocks, bonds or real estate investment trusts (REITs), multifamily has very low volatility which means that investors don’t have to worry about sudden changes in market conditions affecting their income. This makes it easier for them to plan their budgeting and spending while ensuring that they get regular income regardless of what happens in the economy at large.

Diversification 

The main advantage of multifamily real estate is that it can diversify your portfolio and protect against risk. When one type of investment goes down, another may go up simultaneously. For example, if you have all your money invested in stocks and they crash, you’ve lost all of your money unless you have other investments that complement what’s gone down in value (or vice versa). That said, when investing in multifamily properties, it’s important to spread out your holdings across multiple locations so that if one area has trouble getting financing or has market conditions that don’t work well for the property, then another property could still be doing well enough to cover any losses from the first property. 

Low-Cost Passive Income

Most multifamily properties generate income from rent and appreciation (or depreciation). The first one is easy to understand — if you have a tenant who pays rent on time every month without fail, you’re earning passive income that keeps coming in while you’re asleep or at work! Appreciation happens when your property increases in value over time due to inflation and appreciation trends.

Leverage 

Multifamily real estate allows investors to leverage their money by using other people’s money (OPM). OPM allows investors to buy more property with less of their own cash upfront. The more properties you can buy, the more money you make!

The biggest benefit of multifamily real estate investing is that you are able to use debt in order to buy your investment property. This means that you can purchase a property with money that you don’t actually have in your bank account!

For example, if you put down $10,000 on a $100,000 apartment building and took out a loan for $90,000, your down payment would be 10% ($10,000/$100,000). If you sold your property for $110,000, you would have made $10,000 ($110,000 – $100,000 – $90,000 -$10,000). However, if you had chosen to invest in stocks instead, you would need all those funds upfront to make an investment.

Cash flow 

Cash flow is a measure of how much money is coming into your business and how much money is going out. In real estate, cash flow is typically positive (meaning there’s more coming in than going out). But if you invest in stocks or bonds, you’ll probably see negative cash flow until you sell your investment.

Multifamily properties produce cash flow every month, unlike stocks that only pay dividends quarterly or twice a year at best. This means that if interest rates rise, as expected in 2020, rents will go up too because landlords will have no choice but to raise rents for new tenants who want to live there!

Tax Advantages

One of the biggest benefits of investing in multifamily real estate is that it’s tax-advantaged, especially when compared to stocks and bonds. When you sell a stock or bond, you must pay capital gains taxes on any profit. However, suppose you sell an apartment building or other commercial property. In that case, all gains are considered “capital gain” rather than “ordinary income,” which means they are taxed at 20% rather than 39% (for individuals).

One of the primary benefits of investing in multifamily real estate is deducting your mortgage interest and property taxes from your federal income taxes. In addition, if you’re like most people, your state and local governments will also give you a property tax deduction. These deductions can significantly reduce your income taxes, meaning thousands more dollars in your pocket for multifamily investment properties.

Final Thought

Real estate might sound like a safer option, but if you choose multifamily real estate as your investment vehicle, you have the ability to diversify and mitigate risk. This gives you more control over your financial future than playing a game of chance in the stock market. If you prefer something less risky and more conservative, however, multifamily real estate may be your better choice.

Schedule A Free Strategy Call To Know More About Multifamily Real Estate Investing. Growth Capital Group Is Here To Help You.

How Investing In Multifamily Could Help You Retire Early?

Multifamily Investing

You’ll need to make wise investments if you want to retire early. So you should give real estate investing considerable consideration.

Real estate investing is one of the few financial strategies practiced since civilization’s dawn. From antiquity to today, huge landholdings have always represented power and dominance. In a time when there are many investment possibilities accessible, such as mutual funds, gold, bitcoin, ETFs, debt funds, and so on, real estate is a reliable and tried-and-true investment option. 

Here are several ways investing in real estate could help you achieve financial security and earlier retirement. 

Start Planning Early in multifamily investing: If you want to retire early, you should do so as soon as possible. As soon as you start receiving money, you must begin investing. Find a nearby real estate investment group if you just started work, and support as soon as you have a sizable sum of money. Then, you are in your prime, your family is not obligated to you, and your liabilities are virtually nonexistent. 

Renting properties: If you had more rental properties, it would be simpler for you to retire early. When your income rises, you must invest in properties with a high rental yield. When selecting homes for rental income, having a good location is essential. Significant investments will yield lower rental revenue in isolated areas where development is less likely than in regions with reliable transportation. You’ve decided to retire early, so having various rental properties will allow you to continue earning money once you stop working. 

Adapt Your Investment: A property may not always be as profitable or rent-producing as it once appeared, despite rigorous examination. Be ready to sell the property in this situation, possibly at a loss, and reinvest your funds elsewhere. In addition, planning your early retirement income will be more straightforward if you’re ready to change your investing strategy. 

Early retirement requires planning, being well-organized, and acting quickly. However, if everything goes as planned, you may enjoy an early retirement with a property income.

Benefit From Tax Breaks:

Real estate investors must pay taxes on their revenues just like people who earn other types of income. Consider setting aside 20% to 30% of your monthly payment for state and federal taxes.

Due to the increased tax incentives associated with real estate investments, keep meticulous records of all earnings and spending. These breaks eventually result in savings that produce wealth more quickly.

You can save money by deducting business-related expenses if you own rental properties. That covers the price of yard work, improvements, appliance upkeep, and more.

If you offer low-income housing, you can qualify for tax incentives. Benefits may differ from state to state or city to city, so check

Reduce Your Debt:

When you intend to retire early, you will need to make some difficult financial decisions early in your life. With the advent of cutting-edge real estate instruments like Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and fractional investment alternatives, one can start with a small sum and increase it like a Systematic Investment Plan; investing in real estate is no longer limited to buying a plot of land or an apartment (SIP)

Multifamily Investing Is Less Erratic

Compared to other investment possibilities, the real estate market is less volatile—multifamily real estate investment creates a tangible asset that the owner has total control over. Since real estate is not based on market conditions, it is less risky.

In most circumstances, a property’s worth increases, and one can also remodel, build, or otherwise alter a property to increase its value. According to experts, real estate is one of the most reliable and secure long-term investment possibilities. One may live there after retiring, use it for personal purposes, or sell it. Additionally, the property can be saved for upcoming generations. You can also put together a portfolio of unrelated investments.

Supplementary Source Of Income:

People frequently buy a house and then advertise it for rent after that. As a result, they now have real estate as a secondary source of income in addition to their main one. Moreover, rent revenue is frequently invested further in savings accounts, term deposits, etc., where one can earn a sizable rate of return.

When opposed to residential homes, commercial property often generates more considerable rental income. Therefore, they can maintain a reasonable standard of living because of this additional income. The average yearly appreciation rate for retail buildings in India is 3.5%.

Income From Multifamily Investing:

As of 2022, average property values in India will increase at a pace of 6%, so if you intend to invest in areas that will undoubtedly see development in the future, you have a good chance of making an adequate profit. If you finance long-term, you can lease the property and receive monthly rent payments. You can put the house on the market and sell it for more money as you get closer to retiring.

However, several times, a property may only be as profitable if you conduct an in-depth study before investing. Therefore, you must invest a reasonable amount of your money in the real estate business.

Conclusion:

One of the most crucial choices a person must make is how to have a stress-free and tranquil retirement. Your post-retirement days will be taken care of by a retirement plan, which will also make you aware of the obstacles you’ll probably face in the future. 

Early investment will ensure one is financially comfortable in retirement and help one learn the benefits and drawbacks of various assets.

Are You Interested In Learning More About How Investing In a Multifamily Could Help You Retire Early? Then, schedule A Free Strategy Call With Growth Capital Group.

 

The Incredible Tax Benefits of Multifamily Investing.

tax benefits of Multifamily Investing

Multifamily investing is a great way to invest your money and earn income from real estate.

Multifamily investing is the process of purchasing and managing multiple rental properties. Depending on your goals and financial situation, you can own one multifamily property or several at once. A single-family home is usually not considered a “multifamily” property because it only has one unit, but many people consider duplexes and triplexes as multifamily properties. There are many tax benefits of multifamily investing will check in this blog.

Multifamily investing is buying multiple properties you rent out and manage, either on your own or with a team of other investors.

The main benefit of multifamily real estate investing is that you can earn a steady income without worrying about tenants paying their rent or moving out on short notice. That’s because the rents are typically guaranteed by long-term leases renewed automatically every year or every two years.

What Are The Tax Benefits Of  Multifamily Investing?

Investing In Multifamily Properties is a great way to generate passive income, but it also comes with some incredible tax benefits.

1. Depreciation: The federal government allows you to deduct a portion of the cost of acquiring or improving a rental property each year. This deduction is called depreciation and allows you to recover some of your investment over time rather than having it all taxed immediately at its full value. The IRS sets annual depreciation limits based on when you acquired the property. Still, most investors use accelerated depreciation methods that allow them to deduct more costs upfront than allowed under normal rules.

You can depreciate a rental property over 27.5 years (residential) or 39 years (commercial). This means that each year, you can deduct a portion of the cost basis from your taxable income. This reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar.

When you purchase an apartment building or any other type of real estate investment property, you can write off the cost over time using depreciation deductions. Each year, you will be able to take a percentage of the purchase price as a deduction from your income taxes

Depreciation is a helpful tool for balancing positive cash flow created on an investment property, regardless of whether the investor uses a cost segregation study. This is true whether a property is owned wholly or through a partnership. 

2.Tax Rates- Ordinary income and capital gains taxes are usually the two types of taxes that apply to investments of all kinds. When the investment generates income, you must pay regular income tax; when the asset is sold, you must pay capital gains tax. Ordinary income tax rates at the federal level can reach as high as 37%, while capital gains taxes typically have a peak rate of roughly 20%. These rates do not consider the passive investor’s 3.8% net investment tax levied on rental income and capital gains. Additionally, states frequently impose additional taxes.

Stocks that provide dividends and real estate cash flows are typical income properties. However, the cash flows created by real estate can be offset by depreciation and interest charges (see above), whereas the income from stock dividends cannot. This crucial difference between the two makes real estate a more advantageous asset class for tax purposes. In other words, interest and depreciation costs are deductions from ordinary income that may result in expected losses.

These factors lead many real estate investors to choose direct ownership of real estate over investing in publicly traded REITs (whether through a fund or another vehicle). Ordinary income tax is levied on REIT payouts, like on distributions from any other stock.

But real estate investors are not exempt from responsibility. Instead, they must pay capital gains tax on the asset when sold, which might be expensive depending on the property’s original basis.

However, there are other ways to postpone paying capital gains tax, sometimes indefinitely.

3.1031-Exchanges: Section 1031 exchanges allow investors to exchange one rental property for another without paying taxes on the gain from selling their old property as long as certain requirements are met. This allows investors to defer capital gains indefinitely by switching out one investment for another without having to pay taxes until they actually sell their current property.

This is especially helpful when an investor has owned a property for a long enough period to exhaust depreciation. Using a 1031-exchange to reinvest the sales proceeds, the investor assumes a lower tax basis in the new asset, which often represents the delayed gain. The investor would have a different cause that may be depreciated if the newly purchased property has a higher value than what was sold.

Although this is a fantastic instrument for capital preservation, because the IRS regulations surrounding 1031 exchanges are so complicated, private investors frequently hesitate to use them. Investors must meet several strict deadlines for the trade to be approved. Usually, expert advice is required.

The management of 1031 exchanges is better suited to real estate private equity groups. The tactic is most frequently employed by funds that perform their own 1031 exchanges or set up tenants-in-common arrangements that provide investors immediate title to the asset. These laws prohibit a limited partner or member of an LLC from trading a real estate partnership or LLC sales distribution earnings.

Read more Benefits of Investing In Multifamily Real Estate

The Bottom Line

Multifamily investing offers investors incredible tax benefits. When done right, your tax burden and liability can be significantly reduced and even eliminated. When deciding on multifamily real estate for investment, deciding what type of real estate to invest in should also be based on your goals and objectives. 

 

What Are the Common Mistakes in Real Estate Syndication?

Real estate syndication

One of the best ways to raise money for your real estate investment is through real estate syndication. The sponsor and an investor or group of investors are engaging in a straightforward transaction. On the other side, just like any commercial transaction, many investors fall short because they lack sufficient knowledge and planning.

Syndicating (or pooling) of your money with others to buy significant commercial real estate projects is a great idea – if executed well .  If bought at the correct price and managed properly, it is a tried-and-true method for building wealth. This recession is a perfect example of how not all real estate classes and operators are created equally. You must stay away from these eight common blunders when working on real estate syndication initiatives!

  1. An inexperienced operator with no track record of operations.

Many syndicators have had some success in obtaining capital, often for deals involving flow-through taxes or for other parties. They simply receive a commission. Hey, let’s start a syndication company, they suggest. Purchase a piece of property, manage it, and earn a commission and operating profit. In many situations, this is a big mistake because it takes years to learn how to buy, even more years to learn how to buy wisely and not overpay, and even more years to learn how to maintain an asset well. This is especially true in a more steady, less volatile economy!

Check their background and breadth of expertise in the asset market they operate in as a result.

  1. Exorbitant Fees, typically Paid Upfront and Independent of Project Success!

Some syndicators charge a commission rate in excess of 10%. Although 10% seems to be the standard, it is still high because it must be offset by asset performance, which takes time. Additionally, it’s likely best to limit yearly asset management to no more than 2% of the cash invested or 0.5% of the asset value. Otherwise, the system is unduly biassed in favour of the syndicator rather than the investor. It must be win-win!

Therefore, lower is better!

  1. Unrealistic ROIs based on irrational assumptions

As a high ROI is easily achievable on a spreadsheet or in an advertisement, it is a frequent ploy to use unachievable future values of condos or land prices. But because baby boomers are becoming more cautious and less financially successful, there is less demand in the world today.

The economy has served as a wake-up call to investors who believed they could ride a never-ending real-estate bubble for condo projects, land subdivisions, or international real estate in hot markets like Costa Rica, Mexico, or Belize, even though the housing market has only shown flimsy signs of recovery. Then there is the commercial and office real estate sector, where a lot of institutional investors recently suffered significant losses.

Therefore, can these future values be achieved within the promised timeframes?

  1. A false sense of security

It is created by syndications using terminology like “asset backed,” “up to 18%+ interest on our mortgages,” and “secured by a mortgage.” In many cases, these mortgages are in second or third position and substantially surpass the value of the underlying real estate. In land development or construction projects, the investor’s money sometimes comes in second or third after an expensive first position—barely security and definitely a fake! If it is actually equity or investment money, don’t refer to it as a mortgage.

As a result, deceptive advertising is used when a security is not first or above going prices and is based on future speculative probable prices.

  1. The executives who were accused.

So, investigate the initiative and the individuals involved. What did they do before starting this project? Are they experts in the field? Do they have a good reputation? If there are any complaints about them, check them out first.

Another common mistake is choosing the wrong type of property for syndication. Not all properties are suitable for syndication, so it’s important that you find out whether your chosen property is right for this type of investment or not. You should also make sure that there aren’t any problems with the property before signing up for it, such as building defects or legal issues relating to ownership (this can be checked with a lawyer).

  1. Big ads offering enormous gains. 

The real estate market is not a get-rich-quick kind of scheme. If you are investing in syndication, you are looking to make a long-term investment with gradual returns. You should not expect to see huge gains quickly and easily; this is not what real estate syndications are about. In fact, most syndications are purchased using your own funds as a business expense. So, in addition to (large) commissions, search for soft charges. More money raised is not appropriate; 2.5% to 3.5% is!

  1. Not taking ownership of the asset despite their marketing’s promises.

Make certain the investors really do own the item! Frequently, the asset is not held by the investment group but by a shadow business, and the money is lent to them. The money trail is now practically impossible to follow, especially if this shadow business also shares numerous other assets and multiple mortgages. So, even your project could be derailed by one failed, unrelated project!

Conclusion

One of the most potent and successful ways to create several sources of income is through real estate syndication investing. There will undoubtedly be mistakes made along the way, but obtaining financial independence is worth it in the end.

However, thorough due diligence is a requirement and the only way to feel confident about making an investment in any venture. Pull the trigger with assurance if everything looks excellent and the arithmetic is correct.

Schedule a free strategy call to know more about investing in syndications. Growth capital group is here to help you.

 

 

How the Russia-Ukraine War Can Impact the U.S. Housing Market

The crisis in eastern Ukraine has erupted over the past few weeks and is still intensifying. In response to the increased fighting, Western powers have issued a series of economic sanctions against Russia, leading many to fear that Russia could retaliate or otherwise impact the global economy. Although it’s relatively unlikely that Russia would cause serious consequences for the U.S., including the U.S. housing market, there may be indirect effects that become apparent in the near future due to actions taken by each country.

The current situation in Ukraine is a major concern for the U.S. housing market. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has caused oil prices to rise, which means that the cost of gasoline is going up and people are spending more money on gas.

The average American spends about 11% of their income on transportation and housing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If gas prices continue to rise, it will be difficult for Americans to afford basic necessities like food and clothing.

Passive Income and Generational Wealth Through Multi-Family Investment

Russia-Ukraine War will impact the U.S. housing market in at least two ways:

It will increase the demand for American real estate because of the large number of Russian and Ukrainian immigrants who want to leave their countries for safety reasons.

That’s because the conflict has led to a dramatic increase in the number of Russian and Ukrainian immigrants leaving their countries, with many choosing to move to the United States. In fact, according to a recent report by Bloomberg, Russian emigration to America has grown by more than 50 percent over just the past year.

With so many Russians and Ukrainian now coming to America, how can this affect real estate?

There are several ways that this influx of new residents could have an effect on your home values. First, there is an increased demand for housing across America, which means that prices are likely going up in all markets — but especially in areas where Russian immigrants tend to settle down.

It will reduce demand for American real estate because many Americans will be relocating overseas due to safety concerns or business opportunities related to the war.

The Russia-Ukraine war is having a huge impact on the U.S. housing market, and it’s going to continue to do so for some time.

  1. Home price appreciation and home sales: The war could drive up home prices in the U.S., particularly in areas where people are leaving to avoid being drafted into the military. However, it’s unlikely that this will be a major driver of home appreciation since most people who want to leave already have by then and because of the fact that most people don’t move for just one reason alone — they likely have several reasons for moving, so even if there was some kind of geopolitical event driving people out, other factors would likely still be at play.        
  2. Construction activity: Construction activity has already been declining for years now due to a lack of demand for new homes; however, it could decline even further due to fewer workers available for construction jobs due to being drafted into the military or have moved away from their current location because of military conscription laws in place at that time — this could lead to a shortage of skilled construction workers needed to build new homes or renovate existing ones.                                                                                                                                     
  3. Mortgage interest rates: Mortgage interest rates could increase as well due to higher inflationary pressures caused by higher wages paid out.

 

Should You Invest In Apartment Building? (And Why You Should)

Invest in Apartment Building

Investing in apartment buildings is a great way to diversify your portfolio, create income and enjoy tax benefits. But other investment strategies may offer some of these benefits, but not as strong as though with apartments. So the question we all have (especially if you are newer to the industry) is: is it worth it?

Invest In Apartment Building

There are many ways to invest in apartment buildings. These include investing in a REIT, investing in a private fund, being part of a joint venture, buying your own building, and investing in syndication. In this article, we will compare the two popular strategies: being part of a joint business venture and buying your own building

We can see how apartments have historically faired in general terms. A prominent economist, Dr. Peter Linneman, compiled an outstanding analysis that measured the performance of commercial property over any 10-year holding period on NCREIF, the leading real estate performance index. On average across all asset classes, any 10-year hold period would have yielded an 8.3% return. 

If you had invested in apartments for the past 10 years, your investment would have outperformed all other asset classes. This is partly because apartments have historical returns of 9.4%. Apartments also have the least risk, with a standard deviation of 2.1% compared to 2.6% across all asset classes. Past performance does not predict the future, but history is all we have to make our best attempt. Apartments have outperformed all other asset classes on average, in the worst 10-year period and in the best 10-year period. Apartments also had the least risk of any asset class.

To illustrate this point, we have conducted an unleveled analysis—one free of debt. It is important to note that apartments have a wide variety of benefits, the most significant being their low debt burden. Compared to their peers, they receive favorable terms from institutions such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Although other real estate asset classes are valuable in their own right, apartments historically have proven to be a reliable investment.

Thus, if you are still with me, you are likely interested in learning more about apartment investing. And I have only touched on one of the many benefits of this investment strategy, namely that it offers investors a chance to use leverage to magnify returns. In addition, investors can collect consistent cash flow and take advantage of real estate tax breaks. So is apartment investing worth it? That depends on your goals and circumstances as an investor. But for serious investors who can invest for at least five years and do not need immediate access to their investment funds, yes, apartment investing could be right for you. All that said, should you try to buy your own building or seek out an experienced operator? Of course, it’s up to you—the prudent investor will carefully consider both options before making a decision.

Pros and Cons: Invest in Apartment Building

Buying your own building can have several advantages. You can control your deals and have a say in when you buy and sell, what financing choices you have, and how you manage your property. Nonetheless, there are disadvantages of purchasing a building: first, if you do not have experience, it will be difficult to manage the business; second, if you do not have proper experience and education in real estate investing, you may underestimate or overestimate your expenses and revenue; third, if you do not have access to capital or experience being a landlord (or both), finding financing for a building may be difficult; and lastly, if you do not have significant capital nor access to capital (or both), you may not have the ability to purchase larger buildings that could offer better economies of scale.

An alternative to buying your own apartment building is to invest in multifamily syndication. To be clear, syndication is the pooling of resources for a common goal, in this case, financial growth for investment properties. With the combination of professional experience, relationships with brokers, ability to find and acquire quality deals, ability to optimize an investment property’s operation, and access to good financing terms through a network of lenders—an experienced operator can help you take part in multifamily housing investment deals as an equity partner with little or no out of pocket expenses. The best part? You can now be part of a larger, institutional quality deal with limited funds.

If you have little or no financial capital to invest, you might be unable to participate in syndication. However, many other aspects of the multifamily industry can provide value. For example, deal finding, being on-site, and raising capital are all valuable skills and there are a multitude of resources available for free

To decide what’s best for you, the following questions need to be answered:

  • Do you have the time?
  • Do you want to invest in your backyard?
  • Do you want to manage tenants?
  • Do you want to learn how to underwrite and identify deals?

Consider investing in your own buildings and partnering with experienced operators if you can answer “YES” to all three questions. If your answer to most or all these questions is “NO,” you can use an operator as a passive way to invest in real estate. However, you still need to learn about the operator and the deal. This may take time, but it is much less than what it takes to become a good operator.

So, should you invest in apartment buildings? If you have read this far, the answer is probably YES. While I would not recommend plowing $50,000 into a syndication If you have saved enough money to invest in a syndication, go ahead and give it a try.  You still have several other ways of getting involved in the process, so identify what works best for you and go from there.

Related How To Start Investing In Apartment Buildings for Passive Income

Authored by:

Mike Desrosiers

Founder | Growth Capital Group

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