Investing in real estate can be intimidating, especially for everyday investors that are inexperienced. You may not know how or where to start. You may even feel that real estate investing is simply out of your league, but you’d be wrong.
Real estate investments are more accessible than ever. Here’s how to get started:
INVEST IN AN REIT
One of the simplest ways to get started with real estate investing – and without a lot of capital – is to invest in a real estate investment trust (REIT). REITs allow everyday people to invest in real estate without actually buying or owning any real property.
REITs are comparable to mutual funds. These are companies that own commercial properties like apartments, hotels, office buildings and retail spaces.
One advantage of REITs is that they often pay high dividends. If you don’t need the income from these dividends, you can reinvest them to make your investment grow.
If you’re new to investing, stick with publicly traded REITs that can be purchased through an online broker.
REAL ESTATE CROWDFUNDING
Crowdfunding is a new way to invest in commercial real estate. Real estate crowdfunding platforms connect developers and real estate professionals with individuals who want to get into real estate investments. Everyday investors get to join the world of real estate investing without the hassles of owning, financing and managing properties themselves.
Real estate crowdfunding is an attractive option for everyday investors, but it’s not without risk (no investment is). That being said, this type of investment can diversify your portfolio and give you a little taste of what it’s like to invest in real estate.
Some of the most popular real estate crowdfunding platforms include:
Many of these platforms have low minimums to get started, which makes them a great option for everyday investors or beginners.
INVEST IN MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES
Everyday investors can certainly invest in physical rental properties. All it takes is one to get started, and you can use that income to invest in more properties. Multifamily properties are a great way to get started.
If you think that investing in multifamily properties is too expensive or complicated for everyday investors, think again. And there are ways to make this investment even more accessible.
Owner-occupied financing is one option that can work well with multifamily properties. For example, let’s say that you purchased a duplex. You live on one unit and rent out the other unit. In order to qualify for this type of financing, you’ll need to live in the building for at least 12 months. Of course, you can do this with a triplex or quadplex as well.
One advantage of owner-occupied financing is that it generally comes with lower fees, interest rates and penalties. You can also use the income from the other units to pay your mortgage – and potentially with money to spare.
Real estate investments can yield excellent returns, and it’s a great way to diversify your portfolio. Look at each of the options above carefully. Weigh the pros and cons. Learn as much as you can about each option and choose the one that best matches your risk appetite and ability.
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