5 Proven Steps to Get Rich by Investing in Real Estate | Entrepreneur (2024)

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Instead of spending all of your time to earn money, you have to start making your money work for you. If you don't start making strategic investments, you will never generate passive income. Passive income means that you can invest your money from savings into assets that will generate a risk adjusted return, without spending your time to earn it.

Real estate is one of the best investments you can make because you can earn double-digit returns with the right deal. Once you find the right deal, you'll have a superior asset compared to stocks and other alternative investments. There are many segments of real estate you can invest in, but one popular segment that has seen a massive shift in popularity is multifamily real estate.

Times have changed with fewer people wanting to purchase homes and take care of maintenance, especially with the rising interest rates. Seniors are also opting for apartments and senior housing to have less to worry about.

I took advantage of real estate investing by strategically finding deals that I could purchase below market value. This enabled me to make money on day one of purchasing the property. When I look for real estate deals, I search for apartment buildings and vacant land for development. These assets are low-risk investments that can be recession resistant if you choose the right locations.

Your investment goal in real estate should be to replace all of your earned income from the job that you work with passive income from your real estate investments. Real estate is a powerful tool to multiply your money.

Related: 5 Reasons Every Entrepreneur Should Invest in Real Estate

1. Finding assets below market value

When I look at new real estate deals, I focus on purchasing them below market value. This means you should find deals off-market with less competition bidding on the property, or it could mean that the current owner of the property is charging lower rents than the market. You can achieve this by reaching out to property owners and real estate brokers within your market.

Relationships are a massive key to achieving success in real estate. Research what companies own real estate in your market, drive around the areas in your hometown with the most traffic and see what opportunities are available. There are dozens of opportunities available to place your money into real estate.

The assets you purchase should be well located. The location of the property will determine the value. If you go under contract to acquire a building, make sure you do a thorough due diligence. Make sure the property's capital expenditures (sidewalks, roofs, exterior) have not been neglected or delayed in replacement.

2. Increase the value of the property

Once you acquire the property, the first thing you need to do is implement your investment strategy. If you purchased a piece of land, determine how you will add value to it. Will you rezone it, construct a building on it, flip it or all three? Maybe you're purchasing an existing building and your goal should be to increase rents or spend money on the property to increase its value.

Before you purchase a property you have to see an opportunity and have a gut instinct on what you're going to do very quickly. Search for ways to add value to your investment that will return your money with a profit. Determine how much money you have to spend to improve the value and what the return on investment looks like.

Related: 5 Amazing Tips on Turning Real Estate Into a Real Fortune

3. Optimize expenses to increase profit

One trick to quickly increasing the value of your property is reviewing third-party contracts for vendors that service the property. Depending on who the prior owner used, you could find a better-priced vendor that produces the same value for your property. When you take over a property quote other people so you can compare pricing.

Find other options that can do the work for a better price. If you can shave down your expenses and make them more efficient, while still achieving the same value, you will increase your return on investment.

Look at your maintenance costs and determine what the largest repair costs are. When you have the right information, you can use it to your advantage and improve the performance of your investments. Find out what is costing the most money to maintain the property and try to value-engineer it.

4. Review the upside potential

This is my favorite part about investing in real estate. After you purchase an asset, you have to put together an investment plan for how much money you will spend to improve it. You have to carefully review the costs and compare them to the upside.

Say, for example, you are renovating an apartment complex. Your renovation plan can include new kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, modern paint colors, new appliances and new flooring. This may cost you anywhere between $10,000 to $20,000 per unit, but you could potentially increase rent by $400 per month. If you can do this at scale, you will generate massive returns.

Before you start this process, you should develop a budget to determine how much your improvements will cost. Your rent or increase in property value should pay back your costs within a three- to four-year timeline or generate at least $80,000 if you spent $20,000.

Related: How to Start Investing in Rental Properties — Your Step-by-Step Guide

5. Maintain the property

Once you have assets under management, make sure you take care of your tenants to increase your retention rates. After you create an attractive place to rent, keeping your tenants happy is your final priority for long-term success. The less turnover you have the fewer new tenants you have to find to occupy your property each year.

Make sure capital improvements are kept up to date including roofs, sidewalks, parking lots and common areas. Property maintenance is often an overlooked aspect of investing. If you don't keep up with the maintenance, you may take a price cut when you decide to sell in the future.

Conclusion

Maximizing your earning potential by investing in real estate is one of the best paths to take. Your money will be useless if you spend it on things that don't generate a return or if you don't let it work for you. When you focus on these five steps I've outlined and stay on track, it will only be a matter of time until you see success!

5 Proven Steps to Get Rich by Investing in Real Estate | Entrepreneur (2024)

FAQs

5 Proven Steps to Get Rich by Investing in Real Estate | Entrepreneur? ›

The most popular way is to buy an investment property and slowly build up your portfolio. Generally, there are two primary ways to make money from real estate assets — appreciation, which is an increase in property value over a period of time, and rental income collected by renting out the property to tenants.

How to get rich by investing in real estate? ›

The most popular way is to buy an investment property and slowly build up your portfolio. Generally, there are two primary ways to make money from real estate assets — appreciation, which is an increase in property value over a period of time, and rental income collected by renting out the property to tenants.

What does Rich Dad Poor Dad say about real estate? ›

Many people fail to make their first real estate deal because they're afraid to fail. But failure is not only inevitable, but necessary in the process of learning and growing. It's been said that people learn more from failure than success, and yet so many people refuse to let themselves fail by taking a risk.

What are 3 ways real estate investors make money? ›

Let's dive in and see how you, too, can become a lucrative real estate investor.
  • Leverage Appreciating Value. Most real estate appreciates over time. ...
  • Buy And Hold Real Estate For Rent. ...
  • Flip A House. ...
  • Purchase Turnkey Properties. ...
  • Invest In Real Estate. ...
  • Make The Most Of Inflation. ...
  • Refinance Your Mortgage.
Mar 31, 2023

Why 90% of millionaires invest in real estate? ›

Federal tax benefits

Because of the many tax benefits, real estate investors often end up paying less taxes overall even as they are bringing in more income. This is why many millionaires invest in real estate. Not only does it make you money, but it allows you to keep a lot more of the money you make.

How to invest $1 million dollars in real estate? ›

There are many ways to invest $1 million dollars of your own money in real estate, including through:
  1. Multifamily Real Estate Syndication.
  2. Purchasing Rental Properties.
  3. Fix & Flipping Properties.
  4. Purchasing Office, Retail, or Industrial Buildings.
  5. Private Lending.
  6. Investing in REITs.
Dec 30, 2022

How can I build wealth fast in real estate? ›

  1. 7 Fastest Ways to Make Money in Real Estate. ...
  2. Renovation Flipping. ...
  3. Airbnb and Vacation Rentals. ...
  4. Long-Term Rentals. ...
  5. Contract Flipping. ...
  6. Lease to Buy. ...
  7. Commercial Property Rentals. ...
  8. Buying Land.

What is Robert Kiyosaki's method? ›

The BRRRR method is a real estate investing strategy that involves buying properties, renting them out, and then selling them. The BRRRR method was created by Robert Kiyosaki in his book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and is used by many real estate investors today.

What does rich dad consider assets? ›

There are actually five asset classes: paper assets, commodities, business, cryptocurrency, and real estate.

What is the BRRRR method? ›

The BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) Method is a real estate investment approach that involves flipping a distressed property, renting it out and then getting a cash-out refinance on it to fund further rental property investments.

What are the keys 3 to build wealth through investments? ›

The first step is to earn enough money to cover your basic needs, with some left over for saving. The second step is to manage your spending so that you can maximize your savings. The third step is to invest your money in a variety of different assets so that it's properly diversified for the long haul.

What is the most profitable type of real estate investment? ›

Commercial real estate is known to yield higher returns than residential real estate. If you can afford to manage a commercial space, it can prove lucrative over time, depending on your area.

What type of real estate makes the most money? ›

Commercial properties are considered one of the best types of real estate investments because of their potential for higher cash flow. If you decide to invest in a commercial property, you could enjoy these attractive benefits: Higher-income potential.

What do rich people invest in? ›

Ultra-wealthy individuals invest in such assets as private and commercial real estate, land, gold, and even artwork. Real estate continues to be a popular asset class in their portfolios to balance out the volatility of stocks.

Is it smart to invest all your money in real estate? ›

Real estate has proven itself a worthy investment that provides cash flow and appreciation over time. Whether you're an aggressive or conservative investor, it's a great way to diversify your portfolio and can pay off in the short-term and long-term.

Is it true that 90% of millionaires make over $100000 a year? ›

Choose the right career

And one crucial detail to note: Millionaire status doesn't equal a sky-high salary. “Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career,” the study found, “and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.”

How to turn $100 K into $1 million in 5 years? ›

Consider investing in rental properties or real estate investment trusts (REIT). The real estate market is a fertile setting for a $100k investment to yield $1 million. And it's possible for this to happen between 5 to 10 years. You can achieve this if you continue to add new properties to your portfolio.

Can I live off interest on a million dollars? ›

Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

How to invest $20 000 dollars in real estate? ›

Now, let's look at eight different ways to invest in real estate with only $20,000.
  1. #1. Low down payment purchase. ...
  2. #2. Seller carryback. ...
  3. #3. Fix-and-flip. ...
  4. #4. Wholesale real estate. ...
  5. #5. Rent-to-own. ...
  6. #6. Buy shares in single-family rental property. ...
  7. #7. Real estate crowdfunding. ...
  8. #8. Real estate ETFs and REITs.
Oct 7, 2021

What builds wealth the fastest? ›

10 Ways To Build Wealth Fast
  • Save. You can't begin any type of wealth-generation plan without having money to invest. ...
  • Buy an S&P 500 Index Fund. ...
  • Buy Dividend-Paying Stocks. ...
  • Buy a Rental Property. ...
  • Keep Asking for Raises. ...
  • Start a Business. ...
  • Broaden Your Education and Skill Set. ...
  • Set Up Multiple Streams of Income.
Jun 5, 2023

What are 4 ways you make money in real estate? ›

There are generally four different ways to make money in real estate:
  • Increase a property's value.
  • Generate regular income through a property.
  • Buy and hold residential real estate.
  • Participate in investments that don't require you to buy property.

How do you become a self made millionaire in real estate? ›

8 Tips On How To Become A Real Estate Mogul or Millionaire
  1. Have a Good Business Plan. ...
  2. Find Sustainable Real Estate Markets. ...
  3. Narrow Down Your Scope. ...
  4. Build Your Real Estate Team. ...
  5. Acquire Your First Investment Real Estate. ...
  6. Step Back and Evaluate Your Investments. ...
  7. Step Back and Wait.
May 18, 2023

What are the 4 quadrants of wealth? ›

Everyone can be categorized according to how they get their money: Employee, Self-employed, Business owner, or Investor. Each of these four categories, or quadrants, has its strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics.

What are the 4 quadrants of making money? ›

He introduces the Cashflow Quadrant, which, as the name indicates, has four sections: Employees, Self-employees, Business Owners, and Investors. Each quadrant has advantages and disadvantages, and as the author explained, they're not created equally.

What are the 4 quadrants of investing? ›

As the name suggests, there are four quadrants to The Investment Quadrant – Business, Management, Financials and Valuation.

What are 5 assets that constitute wealth? ›

Therefore, net worth can be comprised of liquid savings, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, real estate, vehicles, retirement accounts (IRAs, pensions), and many other types of assets.

What assets make millionaires? ›

No matter how much their annual salary may be, most millionaires put their money where it will grow, usually in stocks, bonds, and other types of stable investments. Millionaires put their money into places where it will grow such as mutual funds, stocks and retirement accounts.

What is the 70 rule in BRRRR? ›

The BRRRR strategy is no different. Flippers like to use the “70% rule” for determining a strike price. This rule states that the most an investor should pay for a property is 70% of the After Repair Value minus the estimated rehab cost.

What is the bird method in real estate? ›

What is Bird Dogging Real Estate? In real estate investing, bird dogging is the process of locating properties with investment potential, and then passing those properties on to a real estate investor in return for a commission.

How much money do I need to start the BRRRR method? ›

How Much Money Do I Need to Started The BRRRR Method? The amount that one needs varies, but it is usually about $50-$150K at a minimum because these numbers reflect what would be needed if purchasing another real estate property using BRRRR investing.

What are the 7 secrets of wealth? ›

7 Secrets of Wealth Management You Need to Know
  • Wealth is a responsibility. First and foremost, you are responsible for yourself. ...
  • Wealth is an instrument of choice. ...
  • Good choices require good goals. ...
  • It's a three-legged stool. ...
  • Scorecards matter. ...
  • Enough is enough. ...
  • Fail to plan, and you plan to fail.
Jul 20, 2016

What are the 8 areas of wealth? ›

The eight capitals: intellectual, financial, natural, cultural, built, political, individual and social. To build a region's wealth, WealthWorks considers not just financial assets, but includes the stock of all capitals in a region.

What is the secret to building wealth? ›

Spend less than you earn. Live below your means. Save the remaining and invest where it grows steadily over time. That is how you build wealth fast.

Do most millionaires invest in real estate? ›

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have built their wealth through real estate. In fact, it's estimated that 90% of all millionaires invest in some form of real estate. There are several reasons for this, but in today's article, we'll share seven reasons why millionaires invest in real estate.

Do millionaires invest in real estate? ›

Between the passive income potential, long-term appreciation, and tax benefits, real estate continues to be the investment of choice for the wealthy. Even better, real estate can make millionaires out of everyday investors.

What is the biggest risk to a real estate investment? ›

High Vacancy Rates

Unfortunately, there's always the risk of a high vacancy rate in real estate investing. High vacancies are especially risky if you count on rental income to pay for the property's mortgage, insurance, property taxes, maintenance, and the like.

How do I succeed in my first year of real estate? ›

Grit - How to Survive Your First Year of Real Estate
  1. Get Your Mind Right. ...
  2. Choose Your Broker and Your Mentors Carefully. ...
  3. Create a First-Year Budget. ...
  4. Learn Everything You Can About Your Market. ...
  5. Find Your Niche. ...
  6. Set S.M.A.R.T. ...
  7. Create an Effective Routine. ...
  8. Prospect.

Where do realtors make the most money? ›

The following are the 10 states where real estate agents earn, on average, the most money:
  • New York: $111,800 (average real estate agent salary)
  • Massachusetts: $84,180.
  • Connecticut: $79,780.
  • Alaska: $79,360.
  • Colorado: $76,850.
  • Utah: $75,170.
  • California: $74,140.
  • Texas: $72,830.
Jul 28, 2020

What can make you extremely rich? ›

  • Establish Financial Goals. To get rich, you need to start by defining exactly what rich means to you. ...
  • Destroy Your Debt. ...
  • Create a Cushion. ...
  • Start Investing Now. ...
  • Diversify Your Portfolio. ...
  • Boost Your Income. ...
  • Learn about FIRE. ...
  • Avoid the Schemes.
Mar 24, 2023

What do millionaires buy for fun? ›

He asked many of the millionaires about their favorite splurge, and found the top five answers included travel, wine, and cars.

What is the most common way to become a millionaire? ›

Andrew Carnegie famously said, “90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” Real estate investments produce rental income, protect from inflation, provide tax benefits, and make it easier to finance future investments.

Is it a good time to invest in real estate 2023? ›

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.

Is there a better investment than real estate? ›

Given the historical rate of return, stocks have the potential to generate more wealth than real estate. It's also worth noting that real estate can be a more expensive investment than stocks.

Why is all cash good in real estate? ›

A cash offer is an all-cash bid, meaning a homebuyer wants to purchase the property without a mortgage loan or other financing. These offers are often more attractive to sellers, as they mean no buyer financing fall-through risk and, usually, a faster closing time.

How much is considered extremely wealthy? ›

You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth. That's how financial advisors typically view wealth.

How to become a millionaire in 5 years? ›

  1. 10 Steps to Become a Millionaire in 5 Years (or Less) ...
  2. Create a wealth vision. ...
  3. Develop a 90-day system for measuring progress/future pacing. ...
  4. Develop a daily routine to live in a flow/peak state. ...
  5. Design your environment for clarity, recovery, and creativity. ...
  6. Focus on results, not habits or processes.

Do millionaires pay off debt or invest? ›

They stay away from debt.

Car payments, student loans, same-as-cash financing plans—these just aren't part of their vocabulary. That's why they win with money. They don't owe anything to the bank, so every dollar they earn stays with them to spend, save and give!

How to invest $5,000 dollars in real estate? ›

Below are 7 strategies you can use to actively invest in real estate with $5,000.
  1. Buy an inexpensive primary residence. ...
  2. Find a property with seller financing. ...
  3. Buy property with a partner. ...
  4. Find a hard money lender. ...
  5. Borrow money from friends and family. ...
  6. Become a wholesaler and bring buyers and sellers together.

Can you become a millionaire from owning real estate? ›

Becoming a millionaire from real estate investing isn't as far-fetched as it may seem, but it's not an easy goal to reach. You shouldn't expect it to happen overnight, but it is achievable. If you have the right knowledge, develop a plan, and be persistent enough, you can become a millionaire real estate investor.

What real estate investments make the most money? ›

Commercial real estate is known to yield higher returns than residential real estate. If you can afford to manage a commercial space, it can prove lucrative over time, depending on your area.

How to invest $100k to make $1 million? ›

Invest $400 per month for 20 years

If you're earning a 10% average annual return and investing $400 per month, you'd be able to go from $100,000 to $1 million in savings in just over 20 years. Again, if your actual average returns are higher or lower than 10% per year, that will affect your timeline.

How to invest $1,000 dollars and double it? ›

How to Invest $1000: 7 Smart Ways to Grow $1K in 2023
  1. Deal with debt.
  2. Invest in Low-Cost ETFs.
  3. Invest in stocks with fractional shares.
  4. Build a portfolio with a robo-advisor.
  5. Contribute to a 401(k)
  6. Contribute to a Roth IRA.
  7. Invest in your future self.
Jan 29, 2023

Is $40 K enough to invest in real estate? ›

While $40,000 can start you toward significant earnings, it likely won't be enough to purchase property outright. However, there are still several ways you can use it to start investing in real estate. For some, $40,000 can be a sizable portion of your down payment.

How many rental properties do you need to become a millionaire? ›

To become a real estate millionaire, you may have to own at least ten properties. If this is your goal, you need to accumulate rental properties with a total value of at least a million.

Is real estate a safer investment than stocks? ›

While stocks are a well-known investment option, not everyone knows that buying real estate is also considered an investment. Under the right circ*mstances, real estate can be an alternative to stocks, offering lower risk, yielding better returns, and providing greater diversification.

What is the best way to become rich? ›

  1. Establish Financial Goals. To get rich, you need to start by defining exactly what rich means to you. ...
  2. Destroy Your Debt. ...
  3. Create a Cushion. ...
  4. Start Investing Now. ...
  5. Diversify Your Portfolio. ...
  6. Boost Your Income. ...
  7. Learn about FIRE. ...
  8. Avoid the Schemes.
Dec 29, 2022

What bank do millionaires use? ›

Some of the most popular banks for millionaires and billionaires include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and UBS. Other examples of banks that may be popular among the ultra-rich include: Private banks: Private banks are banks that offer specialized financial services to high net worth individuals and families.

What are the 4 types of real estate investments? ›

Real estate investments can occur in four basic forms: private equity (direct ownership), publicly traded equity (indirect ownership claim), private debt (direct mortgage lending), and publicly traded debt (securitized mortgages). Many motivations exist for investing in real estate income property.

What is the best return on investment in real estate? ›

A “good” ROI is highly subjective because it largely depends on how risk-tolerant a particular investor is. But as a rule of thumb, most real estate investors aim for ROIs above 10%.

Which type of real estate is best? ›

Commercial Real Estate

One reason commercial properties are considered one of the best types of real estate investments is the potential for higher cash flow.

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