Passive Real Estate Investing is an investment strategy in which investors provide capital for a real estate project without any ongoing management. This hands-off approach is a popular way to earn rental income and potential property appreciation returns without tying up your time. But not everyone has the resources to purchase their own properties or the capital needed to hire a property manager. There are several ways to add passive real estate investments to your portfolio without the upfront work and higher return potential of active investment strategies like buying rental properties or completing fix-and-flip projects.
One of the simplest ways to get into passive real estate investing is through crowdfunding platforms. These online platforms pool money from smaller investors to buy income-generating commercial and residential property. Investors can typically access these opportunities with low investment minimums and can earn cash distributions from rent payments, as well as benefits from property price appreciation or an eventual sale of the property.
Another passive investing option is to invest in REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). These publicly traded companies are largely focused on commercial and/or residential real estate. They are often run by professionals who handle all the active management and leasing duties on behalf of their shareholders. Investing in REITs is an easy and convenient way to diversify your passive income and enjoy the benefits of investing in real estate.
Alternatively, passive investors can also become landlords and purchase single-family rental homes or apartment complexes. Once you have your property in place, you can outsource management tasks to a property manager and collect monthly rent payments from tenants. This can be a profitable passive investment strategy but does require a good deal of up-front effort and knowledge about real estate.
Many people who have transitioned out of a corporate job rank “taking control of their own time” at the top of their list of benefits, which can include having the freedom to pursue passive investments. While active investments, such as acquiring rental properties or undertaking fix-and-flip projects, can have higher return potential than passive investing, they require a lot of upfront work and time commitment.
If you don’t have the time or resources to become a landlord, you can also invest in long-term rentals through online platforms. This strategy offers a steady source of income, the opportunity to earn appreciation from property prices, and can even provide tax benefits. The drawback is that it can be difficult to find quality rental properties and manage them effectively at a profit.
Lastly, you can use hard money lenders to fund renovation and flip projects that are fully managed by professional operators. This is a high-risk, but can be an effective passive real estate investment strategy if you have the capital and patience to wait for an optimum return. It can be a great way to generate passive income in the short term, but you’ll want to carefully research hard money lenders before investing.