Many people are confused about how to invest in real estate, as there are many different types of REITs. Real estate investment trusts are corporations that manage properties for investors.
Direct Real Estate
Direct real estate investing is a way to get into the real estate market without having to spend a huge sum of money. It allows you to generate steady and attractive returns by investing in properties that are worth their rental income.
Direct Real Estate Pros
One of the many advantages of investing in real estate is that it can generate substantial cash flow. This can be done through various tax breaks. One of these is depreciation, which allows you to reduce the cost of buying and improving a property.
Even though the stock market fluctuates, the real estate market generally rises over time. This means that investors may be able to sell their properties at a higher price later.
With direct real estate, you have more control over your money and the properties you buy. For example, you can set rental prices, determine how many properties to buy and refinance your mortgage when the market drops.
Direct Real Estate Cons
One of the biggest disadvantages of direct real estate investing is that it requires a large amount of time and energy to be successful. Another disadvantage of direct real estate is that many investors require financing to pay for their investments.
If the market tanks, they may default on their loan. Real estate is not a liquid asset. This means you will not have the chance to sell a property quickly if you find yourself in need of emergency cash.
REITs
A REIT is a corporation that invests in income-producing real estate. It is typically modeled after mutual funds. In the US, there are more than 225 REITs that are listed on major stock exchanges. With a combined market value of over $1 trillion, these companies are the world’s largest REITs.
Pros and Cons of REITs
One of the main advantages of REITs is that they allow investors to access the profits of the real estate market without being bound by traditional real estate investing rules.
With a 5% dividend yield, REITs are likely to have the highest total return potential. They also have the potential to increase their capital appreciation. Like stocks, REITs trade under heavy volume. This means investors can buy and sell their shares without being forced to do so.
Some of the drawbacks of REITs are that they are not considered “qualified dividends” by the IRS. This means they are taxed at a higher rate than ordinary dividends.
Another downside of REITs is that they are sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Rising rates can make their prices go down while increasing interest rates can stimulate demand. One other thing that’s negative about REITs is that they tend to focus on a specific type of real estate, such as hotels. If this type of property is your main concern, then you’re prone to experiencing property-specific risks.
If you’re looking for a more conservative approach to real estate investing, direct real estate may be a better choice. It’s also likely to provide you with tax breaks. The appeal of REITs is that it allows people who don’t want to manage real estate to get into it. They also provide a good way for people who have limited time and energy to learn about the industry.