Investing in real estate comes with its fair share of risks. Still, with proper decision making, hard work, and smart investment, it can be very lucrative and an excellent source of income. When it comes to this industry, there are many strategies to consider, and learning how to make smart investments will boost your chances of success. The amount of capital needed, time, skills, and knowledge are dictated by the choice of your investment. The following are some of the ways you can invest in real estate.

Live in the Home First

Getting a house to live in first then transition into a rental is a great way to start investing in real estate. Purchase a multifamily residence, live in one unit then rent out the other units. This strategy minimizes the maintenance costs while giving you an additional source of income. Before investing, make sure you research the market and evaluate your sources of finance. You can go for a townhouse, duplex, or compact apartment complex that will be easy to rent out. While living in the house, you can make preparations for getting started in the business by making modifications that will save you on unnecessary costs. The interest in the property will also go up if you primarily live in the house.

House Hacking

House hacking implies renting out part of the house you live in to earn an income without digging into your pockets to invest in a separate property. You can lease a spare bedroom or convert the basement or garage into a room. However, this move is only ideal for someone who does not mind sharing their space. House hacking also reduces the costs of running your home as the tenant may pitch in. This strategy will help you understand your tenants and know the ins and outs of the property, so the transition to fully renting the house will go smoothly. You also need to understand the responsibility that comes with being a landlord and find ways to set boundaries. It would be best if you were also comfortable having a roommate for this strategy to work.

Short-Term Vacation Rentals

The popularity of vacation rentals has been on the rise over the years following the growth of platforms like HomeAway and Airbnb. The vacation rentals business is an $85 billion industry with HomeAway listing over 2.8 million units on its website. Short-term vacation renting means property owners rent out a fully furnished apartment, condo, or home to an interested party. Vacation rentals are popular because they are more affordable than hotels, less restrictive and much more comfortable as the guests get access to multiple rooms, a kitchen, or the pool. They are also kid and pet-friendly because, unlike a hotel, children get the space to play and run around freely. You also get to bring along your pet.

Investing in this business is a great way to invest in real estate. For this reason, you should familiarize yourself with the tax rules and regulations governing short-term rentals. You do not have to pay income tax if you rent out your property for a period of not exceeding 14 days yearly. If you lease out a room, the same 14-day tax rules are applied as if you had rented the entire house.

REITs or Real Estate Investment Trusts

With REITs, you get to venture into real estate without owning real estate physically. It allows investors to invest in real estate by purchasing stocks in a company through an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or a mutual fund. REITs fund properties like warehouses, offices, medical facilities, hotels, apartments, rental centers, infrastructure, tell towers, and many more. REITs can be lucrative, but also, they are complex and varied, so the amount of risk and the chances of your success much depend on the kind of REIT you buy. It isn't effortless to value non-traded REITS so new investors should go for REITs that are traded publicly. To begin, you will need to create a brokerage account which takes not more than 15 minutes, and the good news is, most companies do not need an initial investment.

Real Estate Trading (Flipping)

This strategy is ideal for individuals with extensive experience in marketing and valuing property as it requires proper evaluation of the cost of repairs and excellent marketing skills to flip the houses. It would be great if you had the capital and the skills to repair the property or the time and ability to oversee the renovations. If you have the money but lack the skills for flipping, then you could partner with a contractor who will manage the project. Excellent marketing and proper evaluation of the property will also ensure that you sell the house promptly and avoid losses. You can further lower the risk of incurring losses by living in the house while the repairs are done. Most house flippers often work with a time scale of 3-4 months.

Wholesaling

Get started in real estate investments by purchasing a property on contract, then transfer the agreement to someone else and earn through contract fees. You do not need excellent marketing or networking skills, and the strategy helps you to learn the ropes of this industry quickly. Many investors get into the business through wholesaling because it requires minimal capital. After all, the wholesaler does not buy the house.

Investment Groups

This move eliminates the responsibility of managing the real estate, generates income. Still, to get started, you will require a lot of capital. In investment groups, a company would typically buy or build houses; investors then purchase the properties through the company, hence joining the group. An investor can be the owner of multiple units. Still, the responsibility of running the properties belongs to the firm that runs the group. They conduct tenant interviews, manage, maintain, and market the properties lie. The lease of the properties is usually in the name of the investors.

Real estate investing is a unique field to break into. When done right, you can bring in a lot of profit. Follow the tips above and watch as your investments pay off.

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