It is never too easy to earn money, no matter the industry. But it is possible. Investing in real estate is one way to earn slowly and steadily, but like any other forms of investments, it requires a lot of determination.
Earning money through real estate is a tried and tested approach. But it does come with a lot of risks. To gain success, it is important to understand the different markets of real estate and its fundamentals and how they can generate income.
Below are some tested means to earn money from real estate.
Rental Properties
Before you can earn from real estate, you first need to shell out an amount for investment. This means that you need to purchase a property that you can use to generate income. One of the most popular means of investing in real estate is through rental properties. You buy the property and then have it rented out to long-term tenants. You can choose to buy a single home, a multi-unit, or an apartment for this purpose. You can also choose to buy a commercial property instead of a residential estate.
The earning potential of each rental property varies. There are also pros and cons for each rental type. Hence, you need to think wisely before you decide which type of rental property you want to invest in.
Contract Flipping
Flipping is a lucrative form of real estate investing. In fact, many have amassed massive wealth by flipping contracts. Contract flipping is basically a process where you purchase a property and then sell it to another buyer at a higher price. Flipping does not require you to shell out a big amount of cash, but the returns are usually high. This is the main reason why many real estate investors go for this kind of real estate investment over any other options. Flipping contracts, though, can be risky if you do not know the fundamentals of this type of investment. If you do things wrong, there is a risk of losing more money instead of earning more.
Selling a Home
There are two ways you can do this. You either sell your own home or become a broker. Many people earn by selling their homes. Most of the time, they seek the help of an estate agent to help them get a good deal out of their dwelling. The agent can transact with buyers on their behalf and may also perform other related work, such as marketing your home to would-be buyers, generating leads, meeting and negotiating with buyers, conducting open houses, and many other things that may help sell the home to prospects.
Selling your home can be a good type of investment, especially if you have taken good care of your dwelling in the years that you lived in it.
REITs
Investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) is a good choice for first-time real estate investors. REITs are companies that invest in assets or properties in real estate. They manage the properties and collect rentals, parking fees, user’s fees, storage fees, and other related fees from tenants. REITs are often traded in stocks or mutual funds, making them an excellent choice for investors who are beginners in the industry. Many of these companies also pay dividends, so you can have a passive and steady income for just this type of investment.
Wholesaling
In this type of real estate investing, you can buy cheap properties and resell them to investors who will be willing to pay more. This may sound like flipping, but instead of just buying a single property, wholesalers usually purchase a number of properties and then sell them wholesale to the investors. While this type of real estate investment can be lucrative, it can also be time-consuming. The challenges that go with this type of investment are also countless, so you may want to think twice before going this route. If you choose to go wholesale, make sure to familiarize yourself first with the governing laws and many other things associated with property wholesaling.
Apart from the ways mentioned above to earn money in real estate investment, you can also choose to become a lender to those looking for financial assistance when buying new homes and properties. You can also choose to become a property manager and offer your services to those who rent out their properties to tenants. Additionally, you can choose to become an agent or broker, who will act as a middleman between buyers and sellers.