Investing in Real Estate vs the Stock Market: What’s Better?

Making investments in the stock market and real estate are great ways to improve your wealth. They both provide great returns but each differs in terms of the level of commitment required from an investor. However, if financial security is the goal, you want to pick one that can lead to maximum income.

Both the stock market and real estate investment show potential in increasing finances, but which one is suitable for your needs? This article provides strong reasons why real estate investment offers several benefits over the stock market.

Here are the best reasons to support investing in real estate property:

Steady Cash Flow

As long as you invest in a property that’s strategically located, you can convert it into a profitable rental unit and produce consistent returns month after month. The greater the demand for rentals, the more you can attract potential tenants and turn in a tidy profit.

Investment properties are also a lot more stable. So long as your rental is properly managed, you will receive a monthly payment that proves your property is profitable, especially if you attract long-term tenants.

Stock investments, on the other hand, can be limited in terms of the opportunity of creating cash flow. You can only generate earnings if the price appreciates in value.

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Though some stocks give out regular payments, they still won’t measure up to how real estate can provide consistent profit through rentals.

Hiring a Property Manager

It’s true that managing a rental property is challenging. You need to market vacant units, collect rent, screen new tenants, maintain the property, and inspect the rental routinely. However, these tasks can also be performed by professionals like get MULTIfamily Property Management.

Hiring a property manager can also help increase the profit of your investment. They know what your property needs and can make sure to provide it in order to increase your ROI.

The best property managers offer valuable services that help you reach your business goals, lower risks, and streamline your business operation. They can provide you with a successful rental, so you can gain optimal returns.

A property manager can also help you decide if a yearly or month-to-month lease is better for you.

Meanwhile, stock investors can opt to hire a mutual fund manager to handle their stock investments, but compared to property managers, the fees are much higher.

In a rental property there’s a greater chance to attract long-term tenants, earn a stable income, and enhance the value of the property through its outstanding maintenance.

Real Estate Appreciates

Real estate investors can count on property appreciation which protects them from inflation. Even if the dollar’s value reduces, real estate continues to deliver future income potential since its value grows over time.

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Your property investment can result in appreciation over time, even when interest rates are high. At the moment, the value of properties increases more than ever which is great news for property investors who continue to hold onto their property investments.

In comparison, stocks can fluctuate for those with a short-term investment goal. Stock values can depreciate below what you paid for them. Stock investments can be unreliable, especially if you don’t have a long-term horizon that allows you to deal with short-term fluctuations.

Tax Benefits

The IRS offers tax-deductible expenses to rental property owners which can include deductions on property taxes, property management fees, and property maintenance and repair costs.

Property investors can choose to take these tax benefits and reinvest them into the property, which can in turn lead to a more profitable investment. Some property investors choose to use these benefits to furnish their units, which itself can be written off as a business expense.

Stocks do not grant the holder any special tax benefits. It is only with rental properties that an investor can receive tax deductions. Every cent that initially goes into the stock market must come from your own pocket and does not reward you any tax benefits.

Deferring Capital Gains Taxes

Selling your stock investments equates to paying capital gains taxes, but selling your property allows you to defer paying for the capital gains taxes.

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The legal deferral is permitted if you purchase a similar property after the sale is done. This is called the 1031 exchange where substituting a property with another is conducted to hold off the payment of tax on the purchase.

Here are properties that can be accepted for a 1031 exchange:

Exchanging raw land with an apartment tower
Swapping a ranch for oil and gas royalties
Swapping a property for a residential or commercial rental space

Bottom line

Both stocks and real estate offer benefits and drawbacks, but if you’re focused on earning better returns, reducing risks, and diversifying your investment portfolio, real estate investments are ideal vehicles for wealth-building.

Although real estate properties can be time-consuming to manage and dedicated effort is required, a property investor can consider hiring professional property managers to oversee the investment property.