What Investors Should Know About Buying Multi-Family Properties

Investment properties help create wealth and provide an income stream that allows investors to maintain their lifestyle, despite increases in living costs because rental rates tend to keep pace with inflation. While investors may typically envision single-family homes when considering investment properties, nearly half of commercial investments are multi-family properties. As a result of many factors in the real estate market converging, there is currently a boom in multi-family construction, as almost half a million multifamily housing plans got permits in 2021.

In addition to building diversity into your real estate portfolio, multi-family properties offer benefits that single-family properties can’t. Read on as we explore what investors should know about buying multi-family properties.

One Transaction

While there are many ways to fund your investment, something you should know about buying multi-family properties is the time and cost-saving effect of one transaction to purchase multiple rental units.

Vacancy Impact

Because there is more than one unit, you should know vacancy in one unit will have less impact on your income stream than a single-family property when buying multi-family properties.

Location

One thing investors should know about buying multi-family properties, the type of property doesn’t change the rules of the real estate game. While investors can improve buildings, you cannot simply pick up a piece of property and relocate it. So when looking at a property, don’t forget that the location must be one of the top determining factors to maintain long-term value in your investments. Working with local professional investors means working with a seasoned professional who knows the market.

Potential Income

At the bottom of it all, real estate is a numbers game. Investors should perform due diligence to ensure the deal is sound before buying multi-family properties. Savvy investors use tested formulas to ensure they purchase the property with the lowest risk that offers the highest returns. Let the seasoned professional investors help you build a secure nest egg so you can enjoy your golden years.

Maintenance and Repair Costs Per Unit

Shared maintenance lowers the cost per unit, creating an economy of scale when buying multi-family properties, and investors definitely should know about this financial advantage. Remember, when you’ve done the work to find good tenants, you need to keep them happy, so maintenance and repairs must be of high priority to protect your investment when buying multi-family properties. Once your holdings reach a scale that allows you to hire a full-service property management team, you should reach out to professionals who focus on providing the best experience for your tenants. You can utilize this network of experts to help keep your vacancies and turnovers low.

Financing Options

No matter what size your real estate portfolio is, or if you’re a beginner or have a portfolio with vast holdings, investors should know about all financing options when buying multi-family properties. From traditional lenders to creative financing options and multiple government programs, many options offer entry into this investment sector for those with low income and investors with vast holdings looking to finance large-scale apartment complexes. Talk with a professional investor for guidance towards financing that best suits your needs.

Management

For those with fewer holdings, a property management team can provide as much or as little assistance as you need, taking on the roles of a landlord that you’d rather have a professional handle. As holdings grow, investors find they spend their time managing instead of building wealth, the core goal in the real estate investing business. Real estate investments, when done right, offer passive income in retirement. Because the quality of tenants you have in place equates to the overall outcome of your business, you must create a systematic approach to screening and never skip on reference checks. Then, if you’re ready to begin spending your time doing the things you most enjoy, you can relax when you work with property management experts.