Investing in Real Estate vs. the Stock Market

Of the two types of investing, investing in stocks and shares seems more accessible to many than the world of property investment.

So, why would you consider investing in real estate?

Both types of investment have their pros and cons but the beauty of investing in property lies in the low risk, stability, and predictability of the investment.

You can also add, tax advantages, hedge against inflation and control of investment to the list of positives when it comes to investing in tangible bricks and mortar over stocks and shares.

Let’s take a brief look at some of the pros and cons.

Stocks – Positives and Negatives

When you invest in stocks you effectively own a portion of the company that you are investing in. If that company manages to thrive then the value of your stock rises and you win. When the company struggles, you lose.

Positives

1. Passive Income
   The entire process of investing in stocks can be automated.
   Of course, when it comes to investing in property, you don’t have to be the one dealing with tenants’ problems. When you invest in a property deal that is syndicated by someone else then this means that your real estate investment income will effectively also be 100% passive. You are several steps removed from the day to day management of the property.
2. Liquidity
   Buying and selling stock is a relatively straightforward and speedy process with low transaction costs. No tangible asset is being exchanged so the transaction is quick and inexpensive. The process of actually buying and selling stocks is obviously much more straightforward than buying and selling a property which often takes two or three months or more.
3. Diversification
   Due to the relative ease of buying and selling stocks, it stands to reason that it would also be fairly simple to spread your capital across different stocks. This is a way to combat the volatility of the stock market where the prices of individual stocks fluctuate daily. Clearly, it would take a much greater investment of capital to diversify your real estate portfolio in the same way.

Negatives

1. Volatility
   During a dip in the economy, you may be subject to the disappointment of diminishing funds as the profitability of the company drops.
   Stock prices experience extreme short term volatility, depending on the day’s events. Most smart traders do not react to these volatile market cycles but take a long term approach; however, the unpredictability of stocks can take its toll emotionally.
2. Risk
   Stocks are volatile by nature because they depend greatly not only on the economy but also on the performance of a company and more importantly on the performance of the flawed individuals that run those companies.
   If a company goes bankrupt then the money that you have invested in those stocks is completely dissolved.
   This is a bigger risk than many are willing to take; many investors prefer to have their capital tied up in an investment over which they have a greater degree of control.
3. Ambiguity
   Accurate stock analysis calls for a great deal of study. Even many honest experts admit that they are barely scratching the surface when it comes to accurate in-depth analysis.

Real Estate – Positives and Negatives

Real estate is a tangible asset and as such for many investors, feels more real. A great appeal of this type of investment is its stability.

For many millions of people, this kind of investment has generated consistent wealth and long-term appreciation.

Real estate investment provides a very consistent and stable rental income. Having a home is a vital necessity for all people, and as a result, rental investors are relatively protected even during economic downturns.

Positives

1. Cash Flow
   Property investment provides an opportunity to invest for cash flow which means buying a rental property for the income it generates each month.
   With skillful management, this cash flow income can be increased significantly after your investment.
   The passive income from your real estate investments can dramatically improve your quality of life.
   Rental properties give a steady source of cash that keeps up with inflation.
   With smart investment advice, real estate investing will bring a consistent stream of passive income.
   Many investors are often able to earn cash flow completely tax-free.
2. Tax Advantages
   The government gives many tax advantages to those that effectively help them with their responsibility to provide suitable housing for the populace. Owning real estate brings many tax advantages, not least of which is depreciation.
   Depreciation is a key tax advantage with real estate investment.
   Real estate investors earn back the cost of depreciation over a period of time after the initial purchase.
   Because you are depreciating an asset that increases in value, you receive a tax credit accordingly.
   This tax credit is received in addition to property maintenance and other costs that you can take away from the rental income you receive.
   
3. Hedge against Inflation
   Depending on the type of securities you hold, Inflation can be problematic. Real estate investing serves as a hedge against inflation. The value of the property is tied to inflation as replacement cost goes up and the rent of the tenant is adjusted upward.

Negatives

1. Lack of liquidity
   With property, you can’t just sell it at the end of the trading day. You can’t go back on your decision to invest in a property at the click of a key on your keyboard.
   It may be necessary to hold the property for several years to realize the anticipated big returns.
2. Lack of diversification
   If you’re putting all of your money into real estate you might be limiting your diversification.
   In contrast, with stocks, by means of an index or mutual fund, you can have easy diversification.
   However, diversification can be achieved in real estate investing; well-qualified advisors can help you to spread your investments across different communities and different types of property.
3. Transaction Costs
   As we have seen, stock trading has much lower transaction costs than real estate. Real estate is a longer-term investment and transferring property is expensive. There are title fees, attorney fees, agent commissions, transfer taxes, inspections, and appraisal costs.

Summary

Investing in multifamily properties brings excellent returns with low volatility. But we are not saying that you should not have other types of investment in your portfolio.

If you work with the right people, rental income will mean an immediate return on your investment.

On the other hand, the stocks you buy today won’t produce significant income for perhaps decades.

Why not have a portfolio of passive income from rentals and dividends.

We look forward to supporting you in your desire to expand your wealth and reach your goal of financial reedom by means of multifamily real estate investment.

Multi-Family Property Classifications and Your Investment Strategy

What is meant by the multi-family property classifications A, B, C, and D?

In investment terms which of these property types are classified as core assets and which can be considered core-plus assets?

If you are looking to pursue a conservative investment strategy or if you prefer a more aggressive one that has the potential to deliver a higher yield in which class of multi-family property should you be looking to invest?

All these questions and more will be clearly answered in this article.

Classification – Class A 

Class A multi-family properties are buildings that are less than 10 years old. If they are more than 10 years old, they will have been extensively renovated.

The fixtures and fittings will be of the very best quality.

The amenities will be comprehensive and of a luxury standard.

While Class A properties tend to generate a lower yield percentage, they can grow exponentially and they tend to hold their value even in major economic downturns.

In terms of their investment profile, they are considered to be core assets.

An article on multi-family investing at millionairedoc.com explains why Class A apartment buildings, with a ‘core asset’ risk profile, offer a lower yield percentage:-

“Owners purchase these properties using lower leverage, therefore with lower risk.  REITs and institutional investors purchase these assets for income stream.  The lower risk profile results in lower returns in the 8-10% IRR range.”

A property in the Class A category would not likely have a “core plus” risk profile unless it were slightly downgraded in some way perhaps by a less favorable location, housing type or a number of other factors.

Classification – Class B

Class B properties are older than class A properties. Usually, class B properties have been built within the last 20 years.

The quality of the construction will still be high but there could be some evidence of deferred maintenance. The fixtures and finishings will not be as high quality and the amenities will be limited.

Classification– Class C

Class C properties are built within the last 30 years. They will definitely show some signs of deferred maintenance.

The property will be in a less favorable location and it will likely not have been managed in an optimum way.

Fixtures and finishings will be old fashioned and of low quality. Amenities will be very limited.

Both Class B and Class C properties can be candidates for a ‘value add’ investment strategy.

By bringing deferred maintenance issues up to date or by upgrading the property by means of an interior and/or exterior renovation there is an opportunity to increase the tenant occupancy and receive a higher return on your investment.

In his article, ‘what are the 4 investment strategies?’ Ian Ippolito explains why pursuing a value add investment strategy is a higher risk:- “Much of the risk in value-added strategies comes from the fact that they require moderate to high leverage to execute (40 to 70%). Leverage does increase the return, but also increases the risk, and makes the investment more susceptible to loss during a real estate cycle downturn.”

Classification – Class D

Class D properties are generally more than 30 years old. The property will be showing signs of disrepair and will be run down.

The construction quality will be inferior and the location will be less desirable.

The property may be suffering due to prolonged and intense use and high-level occupancy.

Both Class C and Class D properties can be candidates for an ‘opportunistic’ investment strategy.

Because these properties require major renovations they are the highest risk investments but they can also yield the highest returns.

Summary

In overall terms, the US multi-family real estate market continues to give excellent returns for well-informed investors.

This article has clearly explained how different types of multi-family properties are classified. The article has also given an overview of how each class of property fits the different types of investment profiles. We trust that this information will assist you in assessing your multi-family real estate investment goals.

For further assistance please connect with our team.