Real estate is one of the most popular forms of investment in the world, and for good reason. It’s relatively stable and involves a physical asset, which makes it less risky than other investments. People are also more familiar with the process of buying and selling homes than stocks, bonds, or shares. While properties are expensive, you can finance your purchase with a mortgage.
Of course, this isn’t to say that there’s no risk at all associated with real estate investments. To reduce the chance of losing money, it’s vital to have a plan. Here are few ideas for making money from real estate.
House Flipping
House flipping refers to the practice of buying a cheap property, renovating it, and then selling it for a profit. This is one of the fastest ways to make money through real estate, which also means it’s more risky than most methods.
The key is not to rush things and to do your math before you make any big purchases. Ideally, you should calculate repair costs and selling potential before you buy a property. You should also bear in mind that it can take months to renovate a house, and sometimes there are hidden problems.
But if you plan ahead and are patient, you can make a comfortable profit this way.
Buy to Rent
One of the most common and reliable methods of making money from property investment is buying to rent. You can make a regular profit from your tenants, and in return, you manage the property and ensure that it’s habitable. You may need to renovate the property before anyone moves in, and it’s a good idea to check and clean it between residents.
You can buy and rent many different types of properties, each with different price points and challenges. For example, you can rent to students, which allows you to rent to multiple people. You can also rent commercial properties for a different kind of tenant.
As you build a portfolio of rental properties, it’s a good idea to hire a property manager to help you keep everything well maintained and managed. This might cut into profits, but it will save on time.
Fractional Investment
One of the biggest hurdles of property investment is that you may not be able to afford a property. While a mortgage is an option, it isn’t viable for everyone. However, you can explore fractional investment options.
Fractional investment means that you own part of the property, rather than the whole thing. You pay a portion of the cost and the maintenance costs, and you then get a portion of the profits in return. You can then sell your share in the property when you want to, allowing you to make a lump sum profit.
Over time, you can build up the funds to invest in larger shares and, eventually, a property that is fully under your name and control. Again, it’s lower risk, but there are still notable rewards.