Investors seeking exposure to real estate can look for investment properties to purchase and rent out, or they can buy shares of a real estate investment trust (REIT). Becoming a landlord offers greater leverage and a better chance of realizing big returns, but it comes with a long list of hassles, such as collecting rent and responding to maintenance issues. REITs provide a much simpler way to invest in real estate and earn consistent income through dividends, but they confer less control, and their upside tends to be lower than that of rental properties.
Landlord Pros
Becoming a landlord offers several advantages. Perhaps the biggest advantage is leverage. Investors with good credit can buy rental property with as little as 20% down, financing the rest. Therefore, the investor's cash outlay on a $100,000 property is only $20,000. If the value of the property increases by 20% in the first year, an amount not unheard of in a hot real estate market, then the investor enjoys a 100% return.
Although mortgage payments must be made on the financed amount, a smart real estate investor earns enough money in rental income to cover the mortgage, with money left over as profit. This allows the investor to earn money from both property appreciation and rent payments from tenants.
Landlord Cons
Being a landlord is a much more hands-on investment than owning shares of a REIT. Many people who have gotten into the business of purchasing rental properties have quickly learned that the time required to manage all of their properties becomes another full-time job. A person considering buying rental properties should brace themselves for a huge time commitment, or be prepared to pay a professional property manager to handle the minutiae involved, such as advertising vacancies, collecting rent and dealing with delinquent tenants.
Then there are the myriad expenses involved with owning property. Depending on how the lease agreement is written, a landlord could be financially responsible for everything from a leaky faucet to a broken refrigerator. This can eat into an investor's profit quickly. Moreover, dealing with frantic late-night phone calls every time a tenant's toilet does not flush properly can impede quality of life.
REIT Pros
Perhaps the biggest advantage of buying REIT shares rather than rental properties is simplicity. REIT investing allows for sharing in value appreciation and rental income without being involved in the hassle of actually buying, managing and selling property. Diversification is another benefit. Building a diversified portfolio of one's own rental properties requires a hefty budget and a lot of time and expertise. Investing in the right REIT offers done-for-you diversification in one simple purchase. Furthermore, while rental properties are potentially lucrative investments, they can be highly illiquid, particularly when the real estate market turns soft. REIT shares, on the other hand, can be redeemed for cash in one five-minute phone call.
REIT Cons
REITs lack the leverage advantage offered by financing rental properties. Because a REIT is required by law to distribute 90% of its profits to investors, that leaves only 10% to grow the company by investing in additional properties. Consequently, REIT share prices rarely grow as fast as, say, Silicon Valley tech companies, which rarely pay dividends and usually invest every penny of their profits into growth and innovation.
REIT investing offers less control than being a landlord. When an investor buys rental properties, the investor can see, touch and smell each property before owning it. The investor can research the local rental market and examine data on how similar properties have fared recently. Buying REIT shares means ceding that control to someone else. This can be ideal for investors not wanting to make such decisions, but those who prefer a hands-on approach might be better off as landlords.
FAQs
Perhaps the biggest advantage of buying REIT shares rather than rental properties is simplicity. REIT investing allows for sharing in value appreciation and rental income without being involved in the hassle of actually buying, managing and selling property. Diversification is another benefit.
What is a disadvantage of a REIT? ›
Benefits of investing in REITs include tax advantages, tangibility of assets, and relative liquidity compared to owning physical properties. • Risks of investing in REITs include higher dividend taxes, sensitivity to interest rates, and exposure to specific property trends.
What are 3 drawbacks to owning rental real estate? ›
The drawbacks of having rental properties include a lack of liquidity, the cost of upkeep, and the potential for difficult tenants and for the neighborhood's appeal to decline.
What I wish I knew before buying REITs? ›
REITs must prioritize short-term income for investors
In exchange for more ongoing income, REITs have less to invest for future returns than a growth mutual fund or stock. “REITs are better for short-term cash flow and income versus long-term upside,” says Stivers.
Why are REITs good in a recession? ›
REITs allow investors to pool their money and purchase real estate properties. By law, a REIT must pay at least 90% of its income to its shareholders, providing investors with a passive income option that can be helpful during recessions.
Why high interest rates are bad for REITs? ›
In addition, higher interest rates make the relatively high dividend yields generated by REITs less attractive when compared with lower-risk, fixed income securities, which reduces their appeal to income-seeking investors.
Why are REITs not popular? ›
Interest rate risk. The biggest risk to REITs is when interest rates rise, which reduces demand for REITs. 6 In a rising-rate environment, investors typically opt for safer income plays, such as U.S. Treasuries. Treasuries are government-guaranteed, and most pay a fixed rate of interest.
What is considered bad income for a REIT? ›
For purposes of the REIT income tests, a non-qualified hedge will produce income that is included in the denominator, but not the numerator. This is generally referred to as “bad” REIT income because it reduces the fraction and makes it more difficult to meet the tests.
What happens when a REIT fails? ›
If the REIT fails this ownership test for more than 30 days (31 days if the year has 366 days) in a taxable year of 12 months, it can lose REIT status and cannot elect to be treated as a REIT for five years (IRCазза856(a)-(b)). The test is pro-rated for taxable years shorter than 12 months.
What is the biggest risk of owning a rental property? ›
One of the biggest financial risks of owning rental property is vacancy and turnover. When your property is vacant, you are not generating any income, but you still have to pay for the mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and utilities.
In general, if you want to build greater wealth, the best plan is to hold your investment property for as long as possible. In 20 years, it is highly likely your investment property will be worth much, much more. Just think about what your kids and grandkids will say about prices today.
Is rental property a good asset? ›
Investing in a rental property is a great way to generate steady, ongoing income. And if you hold on to a rental property for many years, it could appreciate quite nicely in value over time. But investing in real estate isn't the same thing as investing in assets like stocks.
What is the downside of REITs? ›
Here are some of the main disadvantages of investing in a REIT. Market volatility: Value can fluctuate based on economic and market conditions. Interest rate risk: Changes in interest rates can affect the value of a REIT.
What is the 90% rule for REITs? ›
To qualify as a REIT, a company must have the bulk of its assets and income connected to real estate investment and must distribute at least 90 percent of its taxable income to shareholders annually in the form of dividends.
Is it better to invest in REITs or real property? ›
Direct real estate offers more tax breaks than REIT investments, and gives investors more control over decision making. Many REITs are publicly traded on exchanges, so they're easier to buy and sell than traditional real estate.
Why would an investor want to invest in a REIT? ›
REITs offer a number of attractive attributes such as growth, income, and diversification. REITs have historically delivered strong results and provide attractive income relative to other asset classes. They offer diversification relative to traditional investments like stocks and bonds.
Are there tax advantages to REITs? ›
Tax benefits of REITs
Current federal tax provisions allow for a 20% deduction on pass-through income through the end of 2025. Individual REIT shareholders can deduct 20% of the taxable REIT dividend income they receive (but not for dividends that qualify for the capital gains rates).
Do REITs outperform the market? ›
REITs are also attractive thanks to their market-beating returns. During the past 25 years, REITs have delivered an 11.4% annual return, crushing the S&P 500's 7.6% annualized total return in the same period.
What advantages do REITs offer investors over direct investments in real estate properties? ›
REITs are easy to buy or sell as they trade on a public market. Low-Cost Real Estate Access: The low transaction cost to purchase the units on the stock market is much lower than direct investing. Diversification: Provides a quick and efficient way to invest in a well-diversified portfolio of properties.
