Investing in an Apartment or Investing in a Real Estate Fund?
In the dynamic world of real estate investments, there are countless ways and options – each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Two prominent options for investors are buying an apartment for investment and investing in a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).
These two investment channels differ significantly in their nature, and behind each of them lies a different approach to realizing the economic potential in the real estate market. Each of these channels provides an answer to a different range of investors with varying budgets, goals, risk tolerance, and other personal preferences.
For someone looking to invest in apartments up to a million, is it better to buy a physical apartment, or perhaps split the budget and look for properties for sale in half a million and invest the rest in a REIT? The answer to this question is never straightforward and depends on many variables. In this article, we will review the advantages and disadvantages of these two investment strategies.
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urchasing an Apartment for Investment – Advantages:
- Rental Income: Ownership of a suitable apartment in the right location provides a steady source of income from rental fees.
- Increase In Property Value: Owning an apartment, purchased wisely, has the potential for capital growth. When purchased correctly, over time, the property value is expected to rise, allowing for profitable selling at a higher price than the initial investment.
- Control and Decision-Making: Apartment owners have direct control over decisions regarding property management, including setting rental rates, selecting tenants, maintenance levels, and selling to the next buyer.
- Portfolio Diversification: For those investing in more than one channel, owning physical real estate can be an important addition to a diversified investment portfolio, increasing capital dispersion and reducing overall investment risk.
- Tax Benefits: Owning a physical property can, in some cases, result in tax breaks on mortgage interest, property tax, and maintenance expenses, which may reduce the taxable income of the property owner. In certain conditions, in cases where a savvy international property transaction is conducted, property tax abroad may be even lower than in your home country.
Buying an Apartment for Investment – Disadvantages:
- Lack of Liquidity: Real estate is illiquid, meaning it can be challenging to quickly convert it into cash when needed. Selling a property may take time and involve various associated costs.
- Personal Responsibility for Property Management: Managing an investment property requires time and effort or, alternatively, payment to a professional who will invest time and effort on behalf of the property owner. It involves dealing with finding tenants, addressing their requests or issues, and handling ongoing property maintenance.
- Market Risk Exposure: Every investment involves exposure to risks in one way or another. Owning property exposes the owner to fluctuations in the real estate market. The value of an apartment is not always on an upward trend, and this holds true for average rental fees as well.
- Financial Risk: When financing the purchase of an apartment through a mortgage, payments for down payments and interest are made. If rental income does not cover these costs, the result is a financial loss. Additionally, the larger the external funding volume, the lower the return on the property. Since buying an apartment requires a relatively high entry threshold in terms of the size of the initial capital, it may not be cost-effective for someone with most of the amount out of reach.
Investing in a REIT – Advantages:
- Diversification: Real Estate Investment Trusts provide exposure to a diverse range of real estate properties, reducing personal property risk.
- Liquidity: REIT stocks are in many cases traded on public stock exchanges, offering high liquidity and ease of buying and selling.
- Professional Management: Real Estate Investment Trusts are managed by experienced professionals who handle property management and other operational aspects.
- Dividend Income: REIT companies are legally obligated to distribute a significant portion of their income to shareholders as dividends, providing a consistent income.
- Accessibility: Investors can have a stake in real estate markets with significantly lower capital requirements compared to physical property purchases, saving them from mortgages, loans, and financial commitments beyond their defined budget.
Investing in a REIT – Disadvantages:
- Market Volatility: Similar to the behavior of stocks, REITs are subject to market fluctuations and do not always correlate with trends in the real estate market.
- Limited Control: Investors have limited control over decisions regarding property management.
- Tax Implications: Income derived from dividends of REITs has tax implications, and capital gains are taxed differently from profits on physical property.
- Management Fees: REITs charge management fees, reducing the overall yield for investors.
- Interest Rate Sensitivity: REITs are sensitive to changes in interest rates, which directly affect the profit margins of investors.
As mentioned, considerations are numerous and diverse for each case. Everything presented in this article is just the tip of the iceberg in the decision-making process for the best real estate investment for an individual investor.
For more information, contact Keynote Assets, specializing in real estate investments in Cyprus and managing a private European real estate investment fund that has completed dozens of transactions to date. For a personalized real estate investment plan, contact:
– WhatsApp: +357-99-982500
– Email: info@keynote-assets.com
