Have you always wanted to become a real estate investor, but you don’t know if you have enough money or resources to make it work?
Investment options abound in today’s market, and with a little bit of homework, you can find the perfect opportunity to get started in real estate.
The good news is that there are several ways to start. It is more accessible than a lot of people may think.
Even if you only have a few thousand dollars to invest, it’s possible.
Minimum investment requirements vary from broker to broker, but some brokers have no minimum investment at all.
You can also invest in stocks with little money by using a mutual fund or an exchange–traded fund (ETF). These vehicles allow you to invest in a basket of stocks for a lower price than you would pay if you bought them one at a time.
Read on to find out how you could get started as a real estate investor.
Do You Need Money to Invest in Real Estate?
Yes, you need to have some amount of money to invest in real estate.
The amount of money you need to invest in real estate depends on the type of investing.
Investment choices include:
- Flipping houses
- Renting out a property
- Becoming a landlord
- Buying commercial property
- Investing in REITs
There are other investment choices too. You also need to consider your investment portfolio.
Also, the real estate market is always changing. There are many different real estate investing strategies, so it is possible to find one that is right for you. Although investment is considered a passive income, this is not universally true. Many investments (such as stocks) can be active, depending on the individual’s strategy.
However, while you will need some money to invest in real estate, you do not have to have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around.
Your annual income doesn‘t have to be big either. You just need to make sure that you have enough disposable income, as you will need to make sure that you can afford to pay your rent on top of your other expenses.
How Much Do You Need to Invest in Real Estate?
The exact amount of money you need to invest in real estate depends on the type of investing that you decide to do.
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the type of real estate investment you decide to make. Generally, you will need to invest a minimum of $50,000 to get started in the industry.
However, there are many different types of real estate investments, so it is important to do your research and consult with a professional to determine the right amount for you. Fractional investing is becoming increasingly popular among real estate investors because it offers the potential for higher returns with less risk.
Most people know about traditional investment strategies such as buying an investment property. You can either invest in a single-family home or a multi-family housing unit. Often, people look at buying single-family houses or multi-family units and renting them out. Some people even choose to use one of their units as their primary residence while renting out the rest. You can make a lot in rental income by buying a rental property. But this will cost at least $100,000, if not more.
With this method, the investor buys a property and then rents it out to a tenant. This strategy puts you in the position of a landlord, which comes with a lot of responsibility.
It might be beneficial to have some experience in property management before trying this approach.
Costs to Consider
When you buy a house to use as a rental property, you are also going to be responsible for many costs. You must handle closing costs, maintenance costs, mortgage payments, and other assorted fees that come with owning and maintaining a property. Make sure your annual income will be enough to cover this.
Since the
housing market crash in 2008, it is impossible to get a mortgage without proof of income. When applying for a loan, you must be able to share credit reports, net income, and possibly a cash flow statement. Lenders pay close attention to your finances, and the loan estimate could be much different than you’d hope. The credit crisis was caused by a huge decrease in cash flow. Ultimately, it led to a full mortgage meltdown as the housing bubble burst. This crash had a lasting impact on the real estate market.
Now, you will need to place as much as 20% of the loan amount down, if not more, to get the mortgage for your rental property. The exact amount depends on the lender and price.
The exact amount depends on the lender and price. Minimum income requirements are also higher for a rental property.
The good news is that rental property mortgages come with lower interest rates than traditional mortgages. Additionally, the mortgage interest can be deducted from your taxes.
Emergency repairs and other unexpected costs can also add up over time, along with the initial purchase price of your property. You must pay for many different housing expenses as the property owner, including property tax, insurance premiums, homeowners insurance, and more. Remember, the property owner covers the cost of repairs and maintenance.
In the long term, though, you could make a considerable amount of profit. Still, that’s only if you can find a tenant who can pay enough in rent to cover more than just the necessary costs.
Mortgage lender Fannie Mae, for instance, says that a property should bring in at least 1.5 times the mortgage payment to be considered a good investment.
Ways to Invest in Real Estate with Under $100,000
While renting out properties can be a lucrative way to earn money, it’s not the only option in this industry.
Stock market investing can also be a great way to make money in this field.
If you‘re looking to get started in rental properties, there are a few things you‘ll need to do. First, you‘ll need to find a good property manager. This individual will help you find tenants, collect rent, and take care of any repairs or maintenance that needs to be done.
You‘ll also need to make sure you have a good understanding of the rental market in your area. This will help you set the right rent price and find the right tenants.
Finally, you‘ll need to have some money saved up. This will help you cover any unexpected costs that may come up.
If you don’t have at least $100,000 lying around to invest in a rental property, there are other options available to help you get your start as a real estate investor.
Two of the main ways to invest in real estate with less than $100,000 are by participating in a real estate investment trust (REIT) or a real estate investment group (REIG).
Real Estate Investment Trust
This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to start investing in real estate.
REITs were originally created in the 1960s as a way to give individual investors a chance to be a part of the commercial real estate market.
REITs are securities that are traded on major exchanges such as stocks. They may specialize in a specific region or type of real estate.
Market trends, interest rates, and the economy all play a role in the success or failure of a REIT, so investors need to keep an eye on these factors when considering a REIT investment.
One key measure of a REIT’s success is its cash return on invested capital (ROIC). This metric measures how efficiently a company is using its money to generate profits.
A high ROIC indicates that a company is using its money effectively, while a low ROIC suggests that a company could be more efficient with its money.
Generally, investors prefer companies with high ROICs, as they believe these companies will be able to generate strong profits in the future. This is one reason why REITs can be a good investment; they often have high ROICs.
You can find REITs for just about any type of commercial real estate, including malls, apartment complexes, and office buildings, so there’s an REIT out there to fit any investor’s interests.
These are passive investments that you can diversify the same way you can diversify your stock portfolio. This means your profit will not depend on just one property.
With this, you are directly investing in real estate, through either mortgage investments or property purchases.
Cash reserves can help you buy a property outright, or give you a down payment to avoid mortgage payments.
Exchange-traded REITs are relatively easy to get out of, unlike most types of real estate investments. You can get started without needing a lot of cash. As little as $1,000 can buy a REIT.
Real Estate Investment Group
With an REIG, you own actual physical real estate instead of owning shares of a company.
An REIG lets an individual investor buy one or more units of an apartment building or a condo through the operating company. This company manages and markets all of the units, and in exchange, they take a percentage of the monthly rent.
This is a good way to take the work of managing a rental property off your hands and also invest a relatively small amount of money.
Negative cash flow can be avoided by carefully selecting a property in a good location and making sure the rent you charge covers your mortgage, insurance, and other costs associated with owning the property.
An investment of $5,000 to $50,000 could be enough to invest in an REIG. While that is not enough money to buy a whole unit yourself, the REIG pools money from multiple investors, funding a co-owned, shared property.
Cash return from rental income and appreciation can be distributed to investors on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, making REIGs a popular choice for those who want to invest in real estate without the hassle of being a landlord.
Get Started with Real Estate Investing
With so many different options and strategies to use when investing in real estate, it can be overwhelming and confusing, especially for a first–time investor.
Taxable income can be deceiving because it doesn‘t include all the money you earn. It‘s important to understand what is taxable and what is not so you can make the most of your money. Taxable income includes wages, salaries, tips, commissions, and other taxable income. It also includes net income from self–employment, rents, royalties, and dividends.
Tax–free income includes most types of income that are not taxable.
These include most types of gifts and inheritances, child support payments, some types of social security benefits, and interest on municipal bonds.
There are many different types of investments you can make in real estate. Some are riskier than others, and some have higher potential returns. It‘s important to understand the risks and potential rewards of each investment before you make a decision.
At Shiirs, we know how complex investing can be. But we also know how great the rewards from it can be for each individual investor.
Your investing goal may be to save for retirement, save for a specific goal, or simply to grow your wealth.
Our team of experienced and qualified investment professionals will work with you to develop an individualized investment plan that meets your specific needs and goals.
Getting started as a real estate investor doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Sign up for Shiirs today! We can help you with all of your investing and personal finance needs.
