For today’s rental real estate investors, opportunity comes in a wide variety of properties. If you’ve been considering whether to invest in multi-family or single-family rental homes, it’s important to note that there are both pros and cons for both. As a whole, investing in rental real estate offers strong long-term profitability and relatively low risk. Many Richboro rental real estate investors specialize in one specific property type for a reason.
It’s going to take some time and effort to gain the expertise needed to know when you’ve found a fantastic property at the right price. But if you need to make a choice or are looking to expand your real estate portfolio, first take a closer look at what both multi-family and single-family rentals have to offer.
When making a decision on a specific property type, there are numerous things you’ll need to figure out before even starting your property search. For example, you will need to look at whether you will be able to organize the financing you need, whether you have the right investment team on the team, and which property best suits your particular business acumen and investing style.
Numerous investors start by investing in single-family homes for a reason. While they might not necessarily be “easier” to buy, they can be less frightening for investors who are just starting. Arranging to finance a single-family residence is a straightforward process that many investors are already familiar with. Plus, understanding the ropes by managing just one property and one tenant can help new investors get up to speed without feeling exhausted. There is a lot to learn about buying and managing rental real estate, no matter what type of property you choose.
Then again, investors will be able to easily learn real estate investing by buying a multi-family property as a single-family rental. There will be more research required, and financing can sometimes be a challenge. Although with multiple tenants, you can expect multiple streams of income to compensate for the higher expenses. While all multi-family properties can offer steady income and higher profits, the smaller multi-family properties, such as duplexes or triplexes, can hold great potential for rental property investors looking to open up. Properties with four units or less can also be financed using conventional mortgages, making them more accessible in that way.
Several investors select the option to invest in single-family properties over multi-family properties because they tend to have a more likely appreciation and fewer challenges. Under normal conditions, both types of properties appreciate over time. But calculating expected appreciation on a multi-family property can be a bit more tricky than a single-family property.
The same holds true for property management, among them leasing and tenant relations. The more tenants you have, the more time and effort it will take to communicate effectively with each one, organize routine property evaluations, and full regular property maintenance. If you employ a professional property manager, you may be able to get a reduced rate for a multi-family property. But the dollar amounts you’re going to end up paying will be higher since that percentage is usually based on the number of tenants you have, not your total rental income.
Ultimately, it’s crucial to factor your exit strategy into your real estate investing decisions. When it comes time to sell your rental properties, single-family homes are easier to sell. This is because demand tends to be higher for single-family homes, and increased competition means a better sales price for you. By contrast, selling a multi-family property can take longer and be far more difficult to arrange, simply because you are limited to investors looking for multi-family properties. Because they are investors, they will be much more willing to pass your property by if it isn’t priced low enough to make it worth their investment dollars.
In the end, the type of property you choose to invest in is up to you. But now that you have a good understanding of the pros and cons, you can decide what best fits your investing goals.
Now that you’ve invested, are you getting the most out of your location properties? Look no further than Real Property Management Prosperity! Contact us online or call 267-433-4200 and ask our Richboro property managers about our FREE market analysis.
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