Passive investing in real estate may be an excellent option for you if you want to build wealth without active involvement in properties. However, in order to make the most of your investment, you need to make sure you have all of the information you need to get started on the right path.
Modern passive real estate investing doesn’t require the day-to-day involvement that active investing does. In contrast, a passive investor’s role is to contribute funds to the asset and refrain from the hands on/day to day activities of that investment.
Passive investing in residential real estate takes much less work than active investing; it can diversify your portfolio, is one of the safer asset classes, and is scalable. Historically speaking, residential real estate has also been relatively resistant to recessions, as well.
Getting Started in Passive Real Estate Investing
Passive investing in real estate is an excellent way to diversify risk and spread your equity across more than one project. The first things you may want to consider are some ways to lower your risk and strengthen the stability of your asset.
Educate Yourself in Your Target Market
Passive investing in real estate requires a lot of planning and a sound business strategy. Consider the market in which you are interested in investing, whether it be across town, in your own neighborhood, or even out of state.
You’ll need to do some research to discern what the most lucrative markets are in the area you’re interested in. How do appreciation and returns look for single-family homes compared to multi-family homes, for example? Which looks to have the better prospects in the area?
Familiarize yourself with long-term local market trends and values in the area as well, and identify specific property listings with a solid track record that look promising and will provide a solid cash flow.
Join a Real Estate Syndication
Becoming a part of an organization of investors who collaborate to acquire projects is an excellent way to get started in passive real estate investing. This approach allows groups to make more lucrative real estate purchases than they’d be able to buy on their own.
In these organizations or syndications, there are general partners (active investors) and limited partners (passive investors).
Syndicators bring passive investors together, each of whom takes a proportional percentage of the profits. As a passive investor, you would review the business plan, look at the projected returns, and estimate the end-game equity splits. Partners invest capital upfront and receive payments at regular intervals from the investment.
Keep in mind that there is a risk with any investment, but passive real estate investing can be an efficient way to build wealth over time, especially when the risk is shared between investors.
Avoid Common Passive Investing Mistakes
Many people make mistakes when they’re planning and executing passive investing plans that hurt their long-term potential for returns.
Perhaps the biggest one is not having enough cash flow. It’s important to research market trends in the area (and for the specific property) to gain an understanding of the long-term movement of the property value.
In addition, some new passive investors mistakenly think that “passive” means “no work required.” Don’t make this mistake. It’s a business that shouldn’t be taken lightly, and it still requires keeping up with all aspects of the property, from the tenants who are there to financial quarter numbers and more.
Set up a list of guidelines you can use to make the best decision for you, and consider joining a real estate syndication. Once the purchase is complete, you will need to have a strategy in place that defines how you will manage paperwork, maintenance, tenants, and the property itself.
Don’t Rush Into Decisions — Get Help with Management
Don’t rush into decisions. With real estate investing, whether it’s passive or active, there is a delicate balance to achieve between all aspects of being a property owner and investor. Expanding your portfolio is well worth the effort, but it must be done intelligently, thoughtfully, and carefully in order to profitably earn passive income.
Named the Best Property Management Company in Chicago, Landmark Property Management is a full-service brokerage with a reputation for going the extra mile for our clients. If you need help, have any questions, or are interested in learning from the best property management company in Chicago, don’t hesitate to reach out! You can contact us at Landmark Property Management via phone at 312-313-8553 or send us an email at office@landmarkrgc.com.
