Not long ago, it seemed as though an entire generation had been doomed to live out their adult years paying rent. Millennials were often portrayed in the media as a generation of renters. Other outlets spoke of the housing crunch affecting millennials in rather striking terms and likened the debate around housing policies to “generational warfare.”
While rising home prices still present a formidable challenge to the cohort of young adults – especially in larger urban areas – more and more millennials have taken the jump toward homeownership in the last few years. A 2021 report by the National Association of Realtors on generational real estate trends revealed that millennials currently make up the largest group of homebuyers at 37 percent.
The allure of homeownership comes from the fact that owning a property is one of the fundamental ways of accumulating wealth. In addition to the amount of equity you accrue as you pay down your mortgage, cash flow is a key part of the equation when it comes to building up a stronger financial future. That’s where real estate investing comes into play.
The benefits of investing in real estate include passive income, stable cash flow, tax advantages, and more. If you are ready to jump on the real estate investing bandwagon and take advantage of the current low mortgage rates, make sure you have a game plan in place that will set you up for success and pave the way to financial freedom. Here are four habits successful real estate investors share:
Before you get started in real estate, make sure your finances are in good shape. There is no easy answer as to what credit score you need for a residential or commercial investment property loan as credit requirements can differ greatly among lenders and are based on numerous factors.
As is the case with other loan types, a good credit score will help you secure lower interest rates and more favorable conditions that might require little to none of your own cash up front. Another key factor lenders will look at is debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Your DTI is all your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. With a lower DTI and the income to support it, you are able to qualify to borrow a larger amount of money.
- Make a Plan
Figure out what your short and long-term goals are and solidify them into a business plan. The investment model best suited for you really depends on why you are in real estate investing and for how long you plan to keep the property. Some people may be eyeing passive income, while others have a goal to invest for retirement. Setting your goals from the outset will allow you to zero in on the type of property you should invest in.
When you develop and invest within your niche market, you are better able to outperform your competition and secure superior deals as you can target your audience more efficiently and identify pain points to minimize your risks. Once the investor has dominated a particular niche, they can then move on to other niches using the same in-depth approach.
Single-family or multifamily homes, retail or office buildings, industrial or commercial properties, mobile homes, land, student housing, and short-term rentals are just some types of assets you could potentially invest in.
It bears mentioning that a focus on a niche does not necessarily mean being confined to a single location. Make sure that the numbers make sense for you, whether it be investing in smaller cities where prices are lower or in large metropolitan areas.
- Invest Now
The current low interest rates make it the perfect time to start investing in real estate. In addition, home prices are expected to continue to rise throughout 2021 for various reasons, one being a bullish stock market.
Are you ready to invest in real estate and see the value it can provide? RLG would love to help you! Call us today to learn more!
