When looking at various business opportunities, one that is often overlooked is homeownership. Like all businesses, there is a level of risk involved, but with homeownership, you can have various revenue options with minimal risk.
As opposed to other businesses, homeownership provides a unique way to build wealth over time using other people’s money. In this case, a bank or lender’s money creates an opportunity.
Leverage Debt
In traditional lending options, you would look to secure your debt with collateral such as a home or other valuables. However, the risk is assumed entirely by yourself, and if you fail to pay, you may lose your home.
With homeownership, you can leverage someone else’s money to create wealth for yourself. As a result, you are borrowing more money to purchase an investment worth more than you could acquire on your own.
Here’s how it works. First, you’ll borrow from a bank or private lending institution. Next, you will purchase a home, apartment, or condo. Then finally, over time, you’ll pay back the loan while the property appreciates. This will earn you equity as a result.
How you pay down the loan is part of your wealth-building strategy with real estate as a business. You can buy, fix, flip, or rent out long-term.
Ways To Earn Passive Income
With real estate, you have multiple channels to get a return on your investment, either in passive income or in building equity over time. Passive income options would be renting properties to long-term residents or through short-term rentals like third-party apps such as VRBO and Airbnb.
Through Rent
The primary way to make long-term passive income with real estate is through operating rental properties. One caveat is that renting is much more than any other real estate investment.
You need to have maintenance and upkeep budgeted and staffed and account for vacancies as the two most pressing issues. But with the rate of appreciation of the home-ownership market pricing many people out, renting is becoming the primary way people are residing, providing savvy investors a significant opportunity.
Build Equity
Another way to make money in real estate is through building long-term equity. Buying and holding onto a property allows you to pay down your debt while the home property appreciates during that same time, making you money once you decide to sell.
Buy and Hold
One option is to buy real estate and hold on to it while it appreciates over time. This option is best if you plan to sell it in 5-to-10 years and plan on living in it over time. With buy and hold, you’ll begin to pay down the mortgage obligation while the home appreciates in time.
In addition, if you live in the house for two consecutive years during a 5-year window, you can also see a significant reduction in capital gains taxes when you choose to sell. If you choose to buy and hold, many things go into buying a home securely.
For example, you’ll need to run inspections, get a request for repairs, have an appraisal, and get all the legal documents taken care of before the banks and title companies will complete the sale. Working with a licensed agent is recommended to help guide you through buying.
Once you’re ready to sell, you’re better suited to utilize an experienced agent than going it alone. Still, you should review a home appraisal checklist to determine your home’s value before signing any listing agreements.
Quick Cash
If you’re looking to make money quickly, you can do it by leveraging debt. For instance, leveraging debt to make a quick turnaround (such as flipping homes) is an excellent way to make fast cash.
Fix and Flip
In essence, you buy a below-market home, perform some minor repairs and cosmetic improvements. Then you’ll resell the home within six months of the purchase at a price above market.
To succeed, you’ll need to understand the market trends, construction and material costs, capital gains taxes, and how to negotiate a below-market deal. Otherwise, you could spend a lot of money and get little return on the investment.
Real estate provides an opportunity, unlike other businesses, by allowing you to get secured funding at low repayment options. You can then use those funds to make significant returns on your investment over time.
Depending on the market trend and your ability to maneuver through it, it can prove to be an incredible wealth-building opportunity as a business model. And with enough experience, you can finally enjoy financial success with minimal effort.