4 Biggest Risks of Real Estate Investing in 2023 and How to Minimize Them - ColoradoBiz Magazine (2024)

Real estate investing is one of the surest paths to building wealth, but it’s not without certain risks. And in 2023’s unsettled and hazy market, those risks could sneak up on you.

With demand tanking, prices flattening, mortgage rates at historic highs, inventory increasing, and general inflation driving up costs across the board, this is a completely different market than the one that investors were operating in for the past decade. And the only thing the experts agree on is that no one knows where it’s going from here.

READ — How Do Interest Rates Impact Real Estate Investing?

So what should a real estate investor do in 2023? There’s no easy answer to that question, but we can tell you how to tackle and minimize some of the biggest risks of real estate investing in 2023.

If you’re flipping houses, you might want to consider becoming a landlord

Flipping houses has been extremely profitable for the past decade, but 2023 should see the market tightening up quite a bit. With demand sagging, rehab costs going up, and days on market doubling or even tripling, house-flippers have a little tougher path to profitability than before.

So why not try the landlord route? With mortgage rates at historic highs, many would-be home buyers are opting to rent. Going from “fix and flip” to “fix and hold” could be an easy way to wait out the market — while collecting some very nice rental income. Who knows, you might even prefer being a landlord to flipping houses.

Buying will be easy — maybe too easy

After years of maxed-out demand and escalating prices, the market has cooled. Put off by high mortgage rates, individual buyers are sitting out, and even iBuyers, stung by 2022’s flattened price curve, have largely paused their acquisitions. Inventory is inching up, projected to increase in 2023.

For individual investors, that means it’s going to be a lot easier to buy in the coming year. There are more properties to choose from, since competition is at a low ebb. For many investors, especially ones sitting on a lot of cash, this could present an irresistible opportunity to go on a buying spree.

But be careful! After so many years of steep competition, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and snap up a property (or five) without doing your due diligence. Although it definitely makes sense to take advantage of a slow market, stay cautious, stick to your principles, keep an eye on your investment goals and resist the temptation to buy just because you can.

READ — Start Investing in Real Estate: 6 Tips for Millennials

Don’t forget to keep close track of your finances

No matter how solid your financial situation is, now is the time to keep a very close eye on your cash flow and your obligations. You’ve probably heard the expression, “death by a thousand cuts.” In 2023, you could very easily go broke by a thousand cuts.

Why? Well, the simple answer is that some investors are getting squeezed on both sides. Prices have flattened or declined in many markets. Interest rates have skyrocketed. The price of materials and contractors have increased. Rental rates have sagged, meaning that your income projections might fall short. Homes are sitting on the market longer, leading to carrying costs piling up, which can eat into your profit margins. Not to mention the historic inflation across the rest of the economy.

All of these little cost increases can add up faster than you think and burn through your cash reserves. Avoid being taken by surprise by keeping a close eye on your cash flow and constantly updating your projections with the latest data.

The market will evolve (again)

The pandemic seriously disrupted the real estate market almost overnight, as many fled large urban markets to settle in the suburbs and more rural areas. This deflated several booming city markets and sent prices rising in formerly sleepy regional markets. Investors followed, and some of the top house-flipping markets in 2022 were smaller cities like Greensboro, North Carolina, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo, New York.

However, that trend seems to be on the verge of reversing in 2023. With the pandemic waning, many big employers are looking at ending or curtailing work-from-home policies, which would lead to a huge migration back to cities. That could give investors a bit of whiplash just when they thought they were settling into a new normal.

Avoid getting caught on the wrong side of the curve by keeping a close eye on movements in smaller, regional markets, as well as on big-picture employment issues. Then, allocate your money accordingly. And as you shift your investments between markets, don’t overlook new money-saving measures, such as buying or selling with low-cost real estate agents. Those commission savings add up fast!

4 Biggest Risks of Real Estate Investing in 2023 and How to Minimize Them - ColoradoBiz Magazine (1)Luke Babich is the Co-Founder of Clever Real Estate, a real estate education platform committed to helping home buyers, sellers and investors make smarter financial decisions.Luke is a licensed real estate agent in the State of Missouri and his research and insights have been featured on BiggerPockets, Inman, the LA Times, and more.

4 Biggest Risks of Real Estate Investing in 2023 and How to Minimize Them - ColoradoBiz Magazine (2024)

FAQs

What are 4 of the major real estate risk concerns? ›

What Are the Major Risks in Real Estate Investing?
  • Major Risks in Real Estate. Identifying risk is a critical skill when investing. ...
  • Capital Risk. Capital risk is the loss of capital. ...
  • Debt. Debt financing is often used in real estate investing. ...
  • Liability. ...
  • Liquidity Risk. ...
  • Market Risk. ...
  • Over Leverage.
Jul 15, 2022

What are the risks of real estate in 2023? ›

Continued inflation, overall higher interest rates, a potential recession and geopolitical tensions will force 30-year and 15-year mortgage rates up throughout 2023, and will bring the two rates closer together as short-term risks rise,” says Dennis Shirshikov of real estate website Awning.com.

What are the biggest risks in real estate investing? ›

Key risks include bad locations, negative cash flows, high vacancies, and problem tenants. Other risks to consider are the lack of liquidity, hidden structural problems, and the unpredictable nature of the real estate market.

Why buying real estate in 2023 could be a wise investment? ›

Despite what some may think, 2023 is still a good year to invest in real estate, thanks to advantages like long-term appreciation, steady rental income, and the opportunity to hedge against inflation. Mortgage rates are expected to decline, but the housing market is likely to remain competitive due to low supply.

What are the four 4 options for dealing with a risk? ›

There are four main risk management strategies, or risk treatment options:
  • Risk acceptance.
  • Risk transference.
  • Risk avoidance.
  • Risk reduction.
Apr 23, 2021

What are the 4 risk elements? ›

A Risk Management Program has four key elements that are tied together in a Risk Management Plan.
  • Risk Identification.
  • Risk Assessment.
  • Risk Action Management.
  • Risk Reporting and Monitoring.

Is 2023 a good year to buy a house? ›

They expect home prices to improve in Q3 & Q4 this year, over in 2023 they expect the medium home will delince 5.6% compared to 2022, to $776,600 in 2023 ($822,300 in 2022). They had predicted a median 2023 price of $758,600 forecast last October.

Will the real estate bubble burst in 2023? ›

Demand for homes remains high, and there are fewer home sellers than there were in 2022. And while the market is cooling, experts don't expect an actual housing crash or a housing bubble burst in 2023. Will there be a housing market crash in 2023? It's highly unlikely that the housing market will crash in 2023.

Is 2023 a good year to flip houses? ›

Flipping houses has been extremely profitable for the past decade, but 2023 should see the market tightening up quite a bit. With demand sagging, rehab costs going up, and days on market doubling or even tripling, house-flippers have a little tougher path to profitability than before.

What are the five negatives of real estate investment? ›

Disadvantages of Real Estate Investing
  • Real Estate Investing is a Long Grind. ...
  • Real Estate Income Can Be Variable. ...
  • Real Estate Requires Maintenance. ...
  • Real Estate is Impacted by Rent Control. ...
  • Real Estate Requires Your Time. ...
  • Real Estate Transaction Costs are High. ...
  • Real Estate Income is Subject to Taxation.
7 days ago

Which is generally the riskiest real estate strategy? ›

Opportunistic is the riskiest of all real estate investment strategies. It is also synonymous with 'growth' in the stock market, like 'value-add,' but it is even riskier. Opportunistic investors take on the most complicated projects and may not see a return on their investment for three or more years.

What is one major problem with investing in real estate? ›

Potential for Negative Cash Flow Risk: Like many other investments, real estate has the potential to create losses. Whenever you complete a deal with less money than you started with, you've created negative cash flow. And too much negative cash flow can leave you broke.

Is 2023 a good time to invest? ›

U.S. equities may disappoint in 2023, but patient investors can find potential income and returns in other markets. A grueling bear market, touched off by decades-high inflation and an aggressive Federal Reserve response, made 2022 one of the most challenging years for investment returns in the last half century.

How to make money in real estate in 2023? ›

  1. House Flipping. Fix and flips are one of the most popular methods of making money in the real estate market. ...
  2. Rental Properties. Another way to invest in real estate is to buy property directly. ...
  3. House Hacking. ...
  4. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) ...
  5. Online Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms.
Jan 11, 2023

Is real estate a good investment during inflation? ›

Economic factors, such as inflation, have a direct impact on the real estate market. As with other goods and services, real estate prices may rise alongside inflation. This is due to the fact that real estate is commonly considered a safe and stable investment that can be used to combat the effects of inflation.

What are the 4 C's of risk management? ›

4C's risk management services encompass each phase of the risk lifecycle – identification, analysis, evaluation and treatment – and integrates risk with business continuity and crisis management to ensure organisation-wide resilience.

What are four ways to avoid risk? ›

The Four Simple Ways To Avoid Risk
  • Handle The Risk. In the construction industry, the weather presents risks that often cannot be avoided. ...
  • Walk Away From The Risk. ...
  • Move Risk Away From Your Company. ...
  • Risk Mitigation.
Oct 7, 2016

How risk can be minimized? ›

Perform regular safety inspections. Assessing the overall safety of your workplace and/or vehicles on a regular basis will help to ensure that any hazards are identified as soon as possible so risk can be managed effectively. For some types of insurance, this may be required, but it's good practice even if not.

What are the top 5 risk categories? ›

There are five categories of operational risk: people risk, process risk, systems risk, external events risk, and legal and compliance risk.

What are 4 risk assessments? ›

The four stages of risk assessment are as follows.
  • 1: Hazard and risk identification.
  • 2: Identify those at risk.
  • 3: Complete risk assessment plan.
  • 4: Risk assessment review and update.
Apr 18, 2017

What are the 4 areas of risk assessment? ›

  • Step 1) Hazard Identification. After determining an area to study, IDEM samples the affected environment, analyzes the samples, and identifies chemicals that may contribute to increased risk. ...
  • Step 2) Exposure Assessment. ...
  • Step 3) Dose-Response Assessment. ...
  • Step 4) Risk Characterization.

Will house prices go down in 2023 usa? ›

Although home prices are expected to improve in the second half of the year, the California median home price is projected to decrease by 5.6 percent to $776,600 in 2023, down from the median price of $822,300 recorded in 2022.

Will 2024 be a good time to buy a home? ›

With mortgage rates declining faster than expected, home prices are likely to remain mostly flat throughout 2024. This will be good news for buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines for a good time to enter the market.

Will interest rates go down in 2023? ›

Along those lines, organizations like Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association forecast that the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages will decline throughout 2023, continuing into the first quarter of 2024.

What is the best date to close on a house? ›

If you need to be occupying your home by a certain date to save on rent, it's a much better deal to close at the end of the previous month (for example, January 30) instead of the beginning of the current month (February 1).

Should I sell my house before the market crashes? ›

Before a recession hits, home prices are typically at an all-time high. This means that selling your home before a recession will result in a higher profit between the purchase price of the real estate and the sale price, which can increase your capital gains taxes.

What will happen if the housing market crashes? ›

As prices become unsustainable and interest rates rise, purchasers withdraw. Borrowers are discouraged from taking out loans when interest rates rise. On the other side, house construction will be affected as well; costs will rise, and the market supply of housing will shrink as a result.

What is the average profit on a flip house? ›

How much profit should you make on a flip? On average, a rehabber shoots for a 10 to 20% profit of the After Repair Value, but it varies depending on the market and the specific project risks. A 10% profit would be on the lower end, and a 20% profit would be considered a 'home-run' by most rehabber's standards.

How much do house flippers make per house? ›

ATTOM has measured house flipping activity since 2005 and found that the practice was most profitable, in pure dollars, in 2021 — when investors pocketed an average $70,000 per property.

What is the best state to flip a house? ›

Utah and Missouri establish themselves as the best places to flip houses in terms of low remodeling costs. New Jersey, meanwhile, has the lowest rental vacancy rate. West Virginia boasts the highest homeownership rate in the US and the lowest housing costs.

Why is real estate not the best investment? ›

Even after buying the property, you have to pay property tax, society maintenance, pay for repairs, etc. Moreover, if you have rented your property, there are chances of damage to the property, which is an added cost to you. All these expenses do not make real estate a good investment option.

Is it smart to rent or buy? ›

Buying a house gives you ownership, privacy and home equity, but the expensive repairs, taxes, interest and insurance can really get you. Renting a home or apartment is lower maintenance and gives you more flexibility to move. But you may have to deal with rent increases, loud neighbors or a grumpy landlord.

What is the biggest disadvantage of real estate? ›

High Cost: The biggest disadvantage with real estate investment is the high capital requirement. To get started, you need to provide for down payments, EMIs, insurance, property taxes, stamp duty and so on.

What is the lazy way to invest in real estate? ›

Rental Homes

This option is ideal for new investors, especially if you've been a homeowner before. Getting started isn't so different from buying a home, and if you're moving, you can even rent out your old home instead of selling. This is a great way to make the transition, since you already own the property.

What is the riskiest asset class in real estate? ›

Development. Development is the riskiest of all asset classes. Typically, developers are buying vacant land, but may also buy existing properties with the intent to demolish the existing structure and build something new. Returns for developments are created through forced appreciation.

What is the number one rule of real estate? ›

The 1% rule of real estate investing measures the price of the investment property against the gross income it will generate. For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must be equal to or no less than 1% of the purchase price.

What are three common mistakes of investing? ›

Chasing performance, fear of missing out, and focusing on the negatives are three common mistakes many investors may make. History shows investors who overreact to near-term market events typically end up doing worse than if they stuck to their long-term plan.

What is the most important thing in real estate investing? ›

Property Location

The adage "location, location, location" is still king and continues to be the most important factor for profitability in real estate investing. Proximity to amenities, green space, scenic views, and the neighborhood's status factor prominently into residential property valuations.

Why do most real estate investors fail? ›

Unrealistic Expectation of Profit

Although real estate investment may be very lucrative, success doesn't happen overnight. Investors who rush into things or don't generate a lot of money right away rapidly get frustrated and overwhelmed. Building your portfolio and network takes time.

Where to invest $25,000 in 2023? ›

What are the best types of investments of 2023?
  • High Yield Savings Accounts. ...
  • Short-Term Certificates of Deposits. ...
  • Short-Term Government Bonds Funds. ...
  • S&P 500 Index Funds. ...
  • Dividend Stock Funds. ...
  • Real Estate & REITs. ...
  • Cryptocurrency.

Should I move my investments to cash 2023? ›

The answer is no, according to advisors and investment analysts. "Allocating more funds to high-yielding CDs, money market funds, or treasuries may seem prudent; however, this is a form of market timing and should be avoided," explained Jonathan Shenkman of Shenkman Wealth Management.

What is the best investment for 2023 recession? ›

9 Best Recession Stocks Of 2023
  • The Best Recession Stocks of June 2023.
  • Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX)
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. ( TMO)
  • Merck & Company, Inc. ( MRK)
  • PepsiCo, Inc. ( PEP)
  • CMS Energy Corporation (CMS)
  • Ameren Corporation (AEE)
  • Xcel Energy Inc. ( XEL)

What are the real estate challenges in 2023? ›

Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate 2022-2023
  • Inflation and Interest Rates.
  • Geopolitical Risk.
  • Hybrid Work.
  • Supply Chain Disruption.
  • Energy.
  • Labor Shortage Strain.
  • The Great Housing Imbalance.
  • Regulatory Uncertainty.

What is the best way to get rich in 2023? ›

  1. Earn more. I think one of the first steps for building wealth is to earn as much as possible for a while. ...
  2. Watch your student debt. There are different approaches to debt, but I tend to agree that there's good debt and bad debt. ...
  3. Separate time from money. ...
  4. Buy assets. ...
  5. Build assets. ...
  6. Start saving for retirement. ...
  7. Educate yourself.

What percentage of millionaires own real estate? ›

90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” This famous quote from Andrew Carnegie, one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs of all time, is just as relevant today as it was more than a century ago. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have built their wealth through real estate.

What are the worst investments during inflation? ›

Holding long-term fixed-rate investments, such as long-term bonds, fixed annuities, and some types of life insurance policies, during inflation can be bad because their returns may not keep up with inflation.

Where do you put cash during inflation? ›

What are the best investments to make during inflation?
  1. Real estate. Real estate is almost always an excellent investment and should be at the top of your list. ...
  2. Savings bonds. ...
  3. Stocks. ...
  4. Silver and gold. ...
  5. Commodities. ...
  6. Cryptocurrency.

How to beat inflation with real estate? ›

Rental income: Real estate investments can provide a steady stream of rental income, which can also help beat inflation. Rents tend to increase over time, particularly in areas with strong job growth and population growth. This means that rental income can also increase over time, providing a hedge against inflation.

What are the 4 major categories of financial risk that need to be considered in an international transaction? ›

Let's look at each one in detail.
  • Market risk. Among the types of financial risks, market risk is one of the most important. ...
  • Credit risk. In financial risk management, credit risk is of paramount importance. ...
  • Liquidity risk. ...
  • Operational risk.
Oct 11, 2022

What are the risks of the real estate industry? ›

Negative cash flow is one of the most common risks for property investors. If you don't conduct your real estate market research and analysis, you could end up losing money. Negative cash flow occurs when your property loan payments, taxes, and other associated expenses exceed your rental income.

What are 3 examples of property risk? ›

Slips and falls, drownings, and assaults and other security issues often result from negligent property maintenance, unprotected slip hazards, elevator or escalator malfunction, and inadequate security. These real estate risk exposures apply to all types of properties whether residential, commercial, or mixed-use.

What are the key sources of risk of real estate? ›

Real estate investment risk
  • 1) Physical asset risk. ...
  • 2) Geographic or market risk. ...
  • 3) Development risk. ...
  • 4) Leasing or vacancy risk. ...
  • 5) Tenant risk. ...
  • 6) Cap rate risk. ...
  • 7) Debt risk. ...
  • 8) Sponsor risk.
Mar 3, 2021

Who are the Big 4 risk and Financial Advisory? ›

They are Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC. Each provides audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services to major corporations.

What are the 3 basic categories of risk factors? ›

The 3 Basic Categories of Risk
  • Business Risk. Business Risk is internal issues that arise in a business. ...
  • Strategic Risk. Strategic Risk is external influences that can impact your business negatively or positively. ...
  • Hazard Risk. Most people's perception of risk is on Hazard Risk.
May 4, 2021

What is one major disadvantage to investing in real estate? ›

Real estate investments tend to have high transactional costs, especially in legal and brokerage fees. The process of acquiring a new property is also very long and tedious with lots of legal formalities. Another disadvantage of property investments is that they are not easy to liquidate.

What are the 4 properties of a risk measure? ›

A measure of risk is said coherent when, in mathematical terms, it possesses 4 important properties: positive hom*ogeneity, translation invariance, sub-additivity and monotonocity.

What are 5 examples of risk? ›

Examples of Potential Risks to Subjects
  • Physical risks. Physical risks include physical discomfort, pain, injury, illness or disease brought about by the methods and procedures of the research. ...
  • Psychological risks. ...
  • Social/Economic risks. ...
  • Loss of Confidentiality. ...
  • Legal risks.

What is risk avoidance in real estate? ›

Risk avoidance is refusing to take part in an action that is viewed as too risky. For example, a property manager may decide not to purchase any property with a pool to avoid associated risks.

Which type of property has the lowest risk associated? ›

Here are the best low risk real estate investment types:
  • Long-Term Rental Properties.
  • Short-Term Rental Properties.
  • Buy-and-Hold Real Estate.
  • Multi-Family Homes.

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