Best places to own a US buy-to-let property - BRIC Group (2024)

In the US market with rising house prices and falling inventory, both homebuyers and landlords struggle. However, within the difficult national picture, certain areas stand out as beacons for US buy-to-let property. Bringing together high population growth, strong employment and undervalued property, the best places to be a landlord centre around Texas and Florida.

A report by the real estate sales and home construction company Ten-X looks at US buy-to-let property across the board. It pinpoints those areas where being a landlord is a “lucrative option”. Criteria for good buy-to-let potential include favourable demographics, job creation and property values with room for growth.

Texas comes out on top

“If you look at our report, probably eight or nine of the top 20 markets in terms of housing performance are in either Texas or Florida,” said Rick Sharga, executive vice president at Ten-X.

The two states tick all the right boxes for rental demand, although Texas dominates the top five. The Lone Star cities of San Antonio, Fort William and Dallas take the top three places in the best places for US buy-to-let property.

San Antonio takes first place for its strong population growth and all-time high employment creation. Dallas features third on the list because of the city’s recent technological and financial services boom.

Ten-X points out that although the Texas property market has seen high price rises over the last year, home values remain lower than other markets. California currently has one of the hottest markets in the US, but high property prices reduce the potential for returns from rentals.

Florida a close second

The Sunshine state also does well in the ranking for the best buy-to-let property in the US. Tampa features in fifth place and scores for low entry costs and high returns. The Tampa metro area was particularly hard hit by the property crash and prices still hover well below their peak. In Q3 this year, single family properties in Tampa went up by 9.8% to reach a median price of US$225,000. Condo and townhouse properties rose by 11.1% to US$150,000.

The Ten-X report also highlights Tampa’s “downtown resurgence”. The metro area is currently undergoing major new redevelopment in both the residential and commercial property sectors.

Tourism too is on a high. Terminal 6 at Port Tampa Bay has just completed refurbishment and upgrades to the tune of US$1.7 million. Cruise passenger capacity at the terminal has gone up by almost a third to 2,500.

Orlando, another Florida hotspot, sits in sixth place in the Ten-X ranking. The metro area has strong population growth, booming employment and a shortage of homes. Orlando’s real estate market has higher values than Tampa, but property still has room for growth. Prices for single family homes in Q3 rose by 7.8% to a median of US$247,900. Those for condo and townhouse properties soared by 18.7% to US$154,250, on a par with those in Tampa.

New model for US buy-to-let property

The full recovery of the property market has changed the buy-to-let scenario in the US. As the Ten-X report points out, “there’s no longer a steady stream of low-priced, foreclosed homes”.

In the light of this, landlords are now concentrating on making money from rental income as their principal return. “In some cases they may even be slightly overpaying for properties,” said Sharga, “but they’re making it up in the rental income over time”. With strong demographics and employment, Texas and Florida appear to be where it’s at for US buy-to-let property.

(Source: Ten-X)

Best places to own a US buy-to-let property - BRIC Group (2024)

FAQs

Best places to own a US buy-to-let property - BRIC Group? ›

The two states tick all the right boxes for rental demand, although Texas dominates the top five. The Lone Star cities of San Antonio, Fort William and Dallas take the top three places in the best places for US buy-to-let property.

What rental properties are most profitable? ›

What Types of Commercial Properties Are the Most Profitable? High-Tenant Properties – Typically, properties with a high number of tenants will give the best return on investment. These properties include RVs, self-storage, apartment complexes, and office spaces.

How much profit should you make on a rental property? ›

The amount will depend on your specific situation, but a good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 10% profit after all expenses and taxes. While 10% is a good target, you may be able to make more depending on the property and the rental market.

Where are the best states to buy a property? ›

10 best states for first-time homebuyers plus key factors
RankState1-year home price change: 2021–2022
1Pennsylvania4.1%
2North Carolina10.1%
3Utah5.8%
4Kentucky7.2%
6 more rows
Mar 2, 2023

Where is the best place to be a landlord? ›

Based on the factors above, we've put together a list of 10 of the best states to be a landlord in 2022.
  1. Indiana. The price-to-rent ratio in Indiana is one of the most favorable in the country. ...
  2. Kentucky. ...
  3. Arizona. ...
  4. Texas. ...
  5. Alabama. ...
  6. Florida. ...
  7. Georgia. ...
  8. Illinois.
Jan 28, 2022

How many rental properties will make you 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.

How to become a millionaire with rental property? ›

Here are some tips on how you can become a millionaire real estate investor.
  1. #1: Learn About Real Estate Investing. ...
  2. #2: Set Clear Goals and Have a Plan. ...
  3. #3: Stop Waiting to Get Started. ...
  4. #4: Make Offers with Terms You Can Afford. ...
  5. #5: Generate Cash Flow. ...
  6. #6: Grow Your Portfolio. ...
  7. #7: Work Up to Larger Properties. ...
  8. #8: Keep Growing.
Jan 24, 2022

What is a good monthly return on rental property? ›

Generally, a good ROI for rental property is considered to be around 8 to 12% or higher. However, many investors aim for even higher returns. It's important to remember that ROI isn't the only factor to consider while evaluating the profitability of a rental property investment.

What is the 1% rule in rental investment? ›

What Is The 1% Rule In 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.

How long does it take to make a profit on a rental property? ›

Most of the time, you can get positive cash flow right from day one with your rental. Figuring out your profit for the year is a matter of taking how much rent comes in and subtract how much money goes out for expenses like taxes, insurance, and mortgage payments. What you're left with is your profit for the year.

Where is the safest place to buy property in USA? ›

The Safest Place to Own a Home Hasn't Changed in Five Years

Nashua, New Hampshire and Laredo, Texas came close behind Columbia as the safest cities in the U.S.

What is the best state to move to in 2023? ›

Utah takes No. 1 in rankings that measure health care, education and economy. WASHINGTON, May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Utah is the Best State in the country, according to the 2023 Best States rankings.

What state has cheapest property tax? ›

All of the data below comes from the Census Bureau's 2021 1-year American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates. Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate in the U.S. at 0.27%. The Aloha state has a home median value of $722,500.

What states are best for landlords? ›

Top 12 Landlord-Friendly States in the U.S. in 2023
  1. Texas. With high demand for rental properties, cities that are drawing in younger populations, and favorable rental property laws, Texas is considered among the best states for real estate investing. ...
  2. Alabama. ...
  3. Indiana. ...
  4. Colorado. ...
  5. Florida. ...
  6. Arizona. ...
  7. North Carolina. ...
  8. Illinois.
Feb 3, 2023

Are landlords usually wealthy? ›

The value of those properties isn't necessarily through the roof: 40% of landlords own less than $200,000 worth of property, and an additional 30% fall in the $200,000-$400,000 range. Only 30% of landlords own properties worth $400,000 or more, with 7% at the top owning properties worth $1 million or more.

How much do most landlords make? ›

Landlord Salary in California
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$115,059$55
75th Percentile$94,495$45
Average$76,650$37
25th Percentile$46,513$22

How do most millionaires get rich? ›

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 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.

How do the rich buy their homes? ›

Wealthy people can opt to get affordable loans at a low rate, take a tax deduction that helps subsidize their interest, pay back their loans with "cheaper" money due to inflation, and use the cash they might otherwise have put down on a house to make an investment that stands a good chance of earning a higher return.

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

How to become wealthy? ›

  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 is a realistic return on a rental property? ›

The 2% rule in real estate is another simple way to calculate ROI for rental properties. According to this rule, if the monthly rent for a rental property is at least 2% of its purchase price, then odds are it should generate positive cash flow.

How much money should you save each month on a rental property? ›

50% Rule: Set aside half of your rental income each month for repairs, maintenance, taxes, insurance, and other costs related to your property. 1% Rule: Maintenance will cost about 1% of the property value per year.

How do you know if a rental property is a good investment? ›

Top 10 Features to Consider
  1. Neighborhood. The neighborhood in which you buy will determine the types of tenants you attract and your vacancy rate. ...
  2. Property Taxes. ...
  3. Schools. ...
  4. Crime. ...
  5. Job Market. ...
  6. Amenities. ...
  7. Number of Listings and Vacancies. ...
  8. Average Rents.

What is the 50% rule in real estate? ›

Like many rules of real estate investing, the 50 percent rule isn't always accurate, but it can be a helpful way to estimate expenses for rental property. To use it, an investor takes the property's gross rent and multiplies it by 50 percent, providing the estimated monthly operating expenses. That sounds easy, right?

What is the rule of 72 in rental property? ›

The Rule of 72 offers a formula that allows you to estimate the years it will take for your investment to double in value. To use the rule, you divide 72 by the annual interest rate or rate of return on your investment. This calculation results in the number of years it will take for your investment to double.

What is the 70% rule? ›

Basically, the rule says real estate investors should pay no more than 70% of a property's after-repair value (ARV) minus the cost of the repairs necessary to renovate the home. The ARV of a property is the amount a home could sell for after flippers renovate it.

How does the IRS know if I have rental income? ›

Ways the IRS can find out about rental income include routing tax audits, real estate paperwork and public records, and information from a whistleblower. Investors who don't report rental income may be subject to accuracy-related penalties, civil fraud penalties, and possible criminal charges.

What is the 4 3 2 1 rule in real estate? ›

THE 4-3-2-1 APPROACH

This ratio allocates 40% of your income towards expenses, 30% towards housing, 20% towards savings and investments and 10% towards insurance.

What is the rule of thumb for rent? ›

A popular standard for budgeting rent is to follow the 30% rule, where you spend a maximum of 30% of your monthly income before taxes (your gross income) on your rent. This has been a rule of thumb since 1981, when the government found that people who spent over 30% of their income on housing were "cost-burdened."

Where in the US can I get the most house for my money? ›

The 7 States Where You Can Get the Largest Home for Your Money
  • Vermont (median lot size: 78,408.0 sq. ...
  • New Hampshire (median lot size: 49,222.0 sq. ...
  • Maine (median lot size: 45,738.0 sq. ...
  • Montana (median lot size: 43,560.0 sq. ...
  • Alaska (median lot size: 42,422.5 sq. ...
  • Mississippi (median lot size: 31,798.8 sq.
Sep 7, 2022

Is buying a house better than renting in USA? ›

The typical rate for a 30-year loan topped 7% this week, which means it's now more than twice as expensive to finance a home purchase compared with 2021 and early 2022, when rates were about 3% or even lower. On a national basis, the average home costs 25% more to own than to rent, the analysis found.

What state has the best quality of life? ›

What are the best states to live in? The best states to live in are Wyoming, Vermont, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, North Dakota, New Jersey, Maine, Florida, and Virginia.

What is the best state to live in 2023 financially? ›

1. Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. It also has the lowest average housing costs in the nation at 33.7% below the national average.

What is the cheapest state to retire in 2023? ›

Rather, Alabama is the most affordable state to retire in, according to WalletHub's “2023 Best States to Retire.” The analysis compared all 50 states across three key categories: health care, quality of life and affordability.

Which state has no property tax in USA? ›

Unfortunately, there are no states without a property tax. Property taxes remain a significant contributor to overall state income. Tax funds are used to operate and maintain essential government services like law enforcement, infrastructure, education, transportation, parks, water and sewer service improvements.

What state has no income tax and lowest property tax? ›

Which Are the Tax-Free States? As of 2022, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming are the only states that do not levy a state income tax. Note that Washington does levy a state capital gains tax on certain high earners.

Which state has no income tax? ›

As of 2023, eight states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — do not levy a state income tax.

What state has the highest rent burden? ›

California has more rent-burdened tenants than anywhere in the United States, according to a new report by the O.C. Register. It's more proof that California desperately needs to end statewide rent control restrictions – and allow localities to create new or expanded rent control policies.

What state pays the most rent? ›

Hawaii and California top the list of states where renters spend the biggest chunk of their paychecks on housing, according to an analysis by Forbes Home. The average monthly income of Hawaiians is $5,079, yet residents spend an average of $2,136 on rent.

What is the easiest state to evict someone in? ›

Louisiana. Louisiana's effective property tax rate is just 0.54%, the third lowest in the US. It is also one of the states that have laws that preempt rent control. Louisiana has one of the fastest eviction processes in the country.

Do millionaires rent their homes? ›

The number of millionaire renters has tripled in the past five years. More and more millionaires are stepping on the everyman's corner and renting apartments rather than putting down roots and money to become homeowners.

Why the rich are renting instead of buying? ›

So they may rent a place in New York City, London, and San Francisco to live in because it's much cheaper than buying. Since they have cash-flowing real estate and other investments to live off of, they know the difference between a property that is an expense and an income property.

How many rental properties is too many? ›

Don't get in over your head. Some real estate investors enjoy great success with one or two rental properties, while others own dozens. There's really no preset number of properties you should limit yourself to. Rather, you should think about your capacity to manage those properties.

What is the best income to rent? ›

Rent-to-Income Ratio FAQ

A good rent-to-income ratio recommendation is usually 30%. Meaning that roughly 30% of a tenant's gross salary should go toward rent.

What kind of property makes the best investment? ›

The best commercial properties to invest in include industrial, office, retail, hospitality, and multifamily projects. For investors with a strong focus on improving their local communities, commercial real estate investing can support that focus.

What type of business is best for rental properties? ›

Generally, an LLC is typically better for rental properties than an S corp. However, both offer: Liability protection for the owners. The chance to avoid double taxation by being taxed as a partnership.

What is a good rental rate of return? ›

Generally, a good ROI for rental property is considered to be around 8 to 12% or higher. However, many investors aim for even higher returns. It's important to remember that ROI isn't the only factor to consider while evaluating the profitability of a rental property investment.

Which property has the lowest investment risk? ›

#5 Single Family Property (Lowest Risk)

Single family properties are usually the least risky investment property type. They are typically less expensive and easier to manage than other property types, making them ideal for first-time investors.

What type of investment property is best for beginners? ›

The best investment property for beginners is generally a single-family dwelling or a condominium. Condos are low maintenance because the condo association takes care of external repairs, leaving you to worry about the interior.

Who are the most successful property investors? ›

Donald Bren is one of the greatest real estate investors in American history. He is currently the wealthiest real estate investor in the country and has a net worth of $15.3 billion. Donald got his start in the real estate world early in life. This is because his father was a real estate investor.

Is it better to rent or own a business? ›

A lease may sometimes beat out a purchase in terms of cash flow, particularly in the early years. But over the long haul, a purchase is usually cheaper because a landlord, in addition to paying all of the costs associated with purchasing and maintaining the property, will attempt to build in a profit for himself.

What do people hire the most? ›

The Top 10 Most Rented Items in 2023
  • Bikes and e-bikes. ...
  • Party equipment and inflatables. ...
  • Camping and hiking equipment. ...
  • Tools and Construction Equipment. ...
  • Suits and dresses for all occasions. ...
  • Water sports equipment. ...
  • Winter sports equipment. ...
  • Toys and baby equipment.
May 9, 2023

What are the benefits of owning a rental company? ›

Main tax benefits of owning rental property include deducting operating and owner expenses, depreciation, capital gains tax deferral, and avoiding FICA tax. In most cases, income from a rental property is treated as ordinary income and taxed based on an investor's federal income tax bracket.

What is the 2 rule in real estate? ›

2% Rule. The 2% rule is the same as the 1% rule – it just uses a different number. The 2% rule states that the monthly rent for an investment property should be equal to or no less than 2% of the purchase price. Here's an example of the 2% rule for a home with the purchase price of $150,000: $150,000 x 0.02 = $3,000.

Where is the highest ROI in real estate? ›

What state has the highest ROI on real estate? The state with the highest one-year ROI on residential single-family homes is Arizona with 27.42 percent, according to iPropertyManagement data. The next two highest states are Utah with 27.05 percent and Idaho with 27.02 percent.

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