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Written by: John Drachman
What if you could design the ideal investment from the ground up?
Your investment might first offer attractive monthly income – especially good if you are one of the 10,000 baby boomers a day joining the ranks of the newly retired.
If the bull market stumbles, make sure your investment can offset a market pullback and still pursue upside potential down the road. Give yourself significant tax breaks too right from the start. Finally, diversify your stock and bond securities for an investment that’s feels closer to home – a real asset.
Now add up income potential, non-correlation with stocks and bonds, total return potential, substantial tax breaks and the comfort of real assets – and what do you have? The income-generating power of rental real estate.
Keeping It Real
Income properties come in a wide array of single or multi-family properties, as well as commercial properties like strip malls. For those who can afford the upfront costs of acquiring a property, rental real estate offers five attractive advantages.- The Joy of Rental Income Any of the rental money from your tenants that you realize after paying your expenses is money in your pocket.
- Leverage Your Investment for Growth Many purchase their rental property with a relatively small amount of their own money and borrow the rest. Through smart property selection and careful financing, many investors have seen their properties appreciate five- or six-times over the mid-to long- term.
- Let Tenants Pay Your Mortgage Every year you own the property means you are letting the tenant’s money pay off your debt. The longer the property is held, the more of the loan principal is paid – and the more wealth you generate for yourself.
- Take a Big Tax Break As a rental property owner, you enjoy substantial tax deductions and write-offs for interest on your mortgage and credit cards used to make purchases for the property, maintenance repairs, travel expenses, property taxes –and much more.Additionally, you can depreciate the purchase price of your property.
- You’re in Control It’s no surprise that do-it-yourselfers gravitate to rental properties. You choose the property, screen the tenants and decide what to charge. Unlike stocks and bonds, rental property is a hands-on investment for most.