How To Find The Most Profitable Investment Property (2024)

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Category: Investing 101, Leasing Tags: How to Invest, Profitable Investment Property

Investing in a commercial property can offer fantastic tax benefits, low barriers to entry, and some of the highest return rates. Whether it’s an investment in a long or short-term property, investors can create positive cash flow with a high return on investment.

Here are tips to help when deciding what types of investment properties can help build wealth and equity and diversify your portfolio.

Research the Market

The first thing an investor should do is research, and a good tip is knowing the location of the property beforehand. Analyzing how much properties in the area sold for can help when determining cash-on-cash returns and cap rates. Many factors affect the price, rental expenses, tenants, and value of your property. As a result, if you want a decent return on investment, you should start your property search by analyzing the neighborhood to make sure it is a good real estate market.

Calculate the Value of Your Property

Calculating the value of your investment can help when deciding if purchasing a property makes financial sense. Some important metrics to add to an income property analysis include:

  • Cash Flow – By considering estimated rental income after rental expenditures, investors can judge whether a rental property will make money or require additional funds to be successful in real estate.
  • Cash on Cash Return – This is the annual pre-tax cash flow (NOI – annual mortgage payment) to the overall cash investment ratio (down payment, closing costs, any rehab expenses, and other loan charges).

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. The more tenants there are—and the higher demand for your property—the more significant your income becomes and the less you will have to concern yourself with finding tenants with little notice.
  • Properties in Areas with Growth – High-traffic areas are particularly best in retail since they tend to bring in tenants who will renew their leases. These areas are also more likely to draw new tenants if current occupants leave for any reason. Another prime example of an area with potential growth is a newly developed suburb, which can be a magnet for investors.
  • Triple Net Lease PropertiesTriple net properties are usually single-tenant spaces, but those tenants are more likely to sign long-term leases. They are also ideal for inexperienced investors, as they place the responsibility of paying real estate taxes, maintenance, and building insurance into your tenant’s hands. This makes it easier to have a stable income from your investment rather than estimating your payment based on projected maintenance costs.

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FAQs

How to calculate if an investment property will be profitable? ›

To calculate the property's ROI:
  1. Divide the annual return by your original out-of-pocket expenses (the downpayment of $20,000, closing costs of $2,500, and remodeling for $9,000) to determine ROI.
  2. ROI = $5,016.84 ÷ $31,500 = 0.159.
  3. Your ROI is 15.9%.

What type of investment property is 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.

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

4-3-2-1 rule

The front quarter of the standard site receives 40% of the total value. The second quarter receives 30% of the total value. The third quarter receives 20% of the total value; and the rear quarter receives just 10% of the total value.

How do you find the 1% rule property? ›

Calculating the 1% rule is simple. Just multiply the purchase price of the property by 1%. Even easier, move the comma in the purchase price to the left two spaces. The result should be the minimum you charge in monthly rent.

What is the 50% rule in real estate investing? ›

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 70% rule in real estate investing? ›

The 70% rule can help flippers when they're scouring real estate listings for potential investment opportunities. 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.

What type of investment makes the most money? ›

The most successful investors invest in stocks because you can make better returns than with any other investment type. Warren Buffett became a successful investor by buying shares of stocks, and you can too.

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.

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.

What is the 80% rule in real estate? ›

The 80% rule means that an insurer will only fully cover the cost of damage to a house if the owner has purchased insurance coverage equal to at least 80% of the house's total replacement value.

What is the 25 rule in real estate? ›

To calculate how much house you can afford, use the 25% rule—never spend more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay (after tax) on monthly mortgage payments.

What is the 20 rule in real estate? ›

Spend 80 percent of your time on the 20 percent of things that really require your attention and other things will fall into place where they need to be.

What is a good 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 100X rule in real estate? ›

A common real estate investing rule a savvy real estate investor follows is to pay no more than 100X the monthly rent as the purchase price. In my example, an investor wouldn't pay more than $900,000 for my now $9,000 a month rental house.

What is the rule of thumb for rental property? ›

Key takeaways

The 1% rule states that the gross monthly rent should be equal to or greater than 1% of the property purchase price or value in order for it to be deemed a cash-flowing property. To calculate the rent-to-price ratio to see if a property meets the 1% rule, divide the monthly rent by the purchase price.

What is a 70 30 split in real estate investing? ›

Split structure

They offer a 70-30 split. Meaning, 70 percent of the commission will go to the real estate agent and 30 percent will go to the brokerage. In addition, a real estate agent will pay a six percent franchise fee for each transaction up to $3,000.

What is the rule of 72 in real estate investing? ›

What Is the Rule of 72? The Rule of 72 is a simple way to determine how long an investment will take to double given a fixed annual rate of interest. By dividing 72 by the annual rate of return, investors obtain a rough estimate of how many years it will take for the initial investment to duplicate itself.

What is the 10% rule in real estate? ›

A good rule is that a 1% increase in interest rates will equal 10% less you are able to borrow but still keep your same monthly payment. It's said that when interest rates climb, every 1% increase in rate will decrease your buying power by 10%. The higher the interest rate, the higher your monthly payment.

What is the 5% rule investing? ›

In investment, the five percent rule is a philosophy that says an investor should not allocate more than five percent of their portfolio funds into one security or investment. The rule also referred to as FINRA 5% policy, applies to transactions like riskless transactions and proceed sales.

What is the 110 rule investing? ›

As a rule of thumb, you can subtract your age from 110 or 100 to find the percentage of your portfolio that should be invested in equities; the rest should be in bonds. Using 110 will lead to a more aggressive portfolio; 100 will skew more conservative.

What is the rule of 35 in the real estate? ›

By law, lenders can't underwrite the loan unless they can determine the borrower will be able to pay up the loan. The whole idea behind the 35-percent rule of thumb is this: a borrower can afford no more than 35% of its monthly take-home pay.

What is a millionaires best investment? ›

Here are the six most popular places or investments that millionaires invest in.
  • Cash and Cash Equivalents. Many, and perhaps most, millionaires are frugal. ...
  • Real Estate. ...
  • Stocks and Stock Funds. ...
  • Private Equity and Hedge Funds. ...
  • Commodities. ...
  • Alternative Investments.
May 8, 2023

What is the safest investment with highest return? ›

Here are the best low-risk investments in June 2023:
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • Series I savings bonds.
  • Short-term certificates of deposit.
  • Money market funds.
  • Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
  • Corporate bonds.
  • Dividend-paying stocks.
  • Preferred stocks.
7 days ago

What investment makes the most 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.

Which property has the lowest investment risk? ›

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.

What are 3 ways to invest in property? ›

With that in mind, here are five top ways to invest in real estate.
  • Buy your own home. You might not normally think of your first residence as an investment, but many people do. ...
  • Purchase a rental property and become a landlord. ...
  • Consider flipping houses. ...
  • Buy a REIT. ...
  • Use an online real estate platform.
Mar 28, 2023

What is the most common way to invest in real estate? ›

Invest in Your Own Home

Primary residences are the most common way most people invest in real estate. You take out a mortgage, make your monthly payments and gradually build ownership in your home. With luck and strong demand in your local market, you can cash in on the equity when you sell your home.

Why real estate creates 90% of millionaires? ›

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 do the rich buy properties? ›

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.

What is the safest asset class in real estate? ›

Multifamily Properties

Although it's not without its ups and downs, the multifamily sector has long been regarded as one of the safest investment options in times of uncertainty.

What is 10 10 20 rule real estate? ›

When you're on this “high,” rather than tell your fellow agents about your success, tell the neighbors: 10 houses to the right of the listing, 10 houses to the left of the listing, and 20 houses across the street from the listing.

What is the 5 and 2 real estate rule? ›

The 2-out-of-five-year rule states that you must have both owned and lived in your home for a minimum of two out of the last five years before the date of sale. However, these two years don't have to be consecutive, and you don't have to live there on the date of the sale.

What is the 4 rule in real estate? ›

This is a simple enough question and one many investors ask when checking on their progress toward retirement. The “4% rule” is a theory that states you should be able to retire and safely withdraw 4% of your savings every year and your money should last 30 years.

What is the $1000 a month Rule? ›

The math behind the $1000-a-month rule is simple. If you take 5% of a $240,000 retirement nest egg each year, that works out to $12,000/year, which, divided into 12 months, gives you $1000 each month.

What is the 36 Rule in real estate? ›

A household should spend a maximum of 28% of its gross monthly income on total housing expenses according to this rule, and no more than 36% on total debt service. This includes housing and other debt such as car loans and credit cards. Lenders often use this rule to assess whether to extend credit to borrowers.

What is the 7% Rule in real estate? ›

The top 7% are hustlers. If they don't know something, they'll learn it. If the heat is on, they'll put in the extra hours to make it happen. You don't have to know everything, everyone, have all the money, or talent, but if you'll apply those two principles, you'll do very well in real estate.

What is the 30 percent rule in real estate investing? ›

You may have heard it—the old rule that says, “Homeowners shouldn't spend more than 30% of their gross monthly income on housing.” The idea is to ensure they still have 70% of their income to spend on other expenses. The intent is good. But is it realistic today? That depends on your financial situation.

What is the 50 30 20 rule for buying a house? ›

The 50/30/20 rule is a budgeting technique that involves dividing your money into three primary categories based on your after-tax income (i.e., your take-home pay): 50% to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt payments.

Is 7% ROI on rental property good? ›

A good ROI for a rental property is typically more than 10%, but 5%–10% can also be acceptable. But the ROI may be lower in the first year, due to the upfront costs of buying a home. A fixer-upper may offer more upfront savings as their average list price is 25% lower than turnkey homes.

What is average ROI on rental property? ›

Even better, the average return on investment for a California rental property is 1.6%. While you might not think that's impressive, remember it's the average for the entire state.

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 does Noi mean in real estate? ›

Net Operating Income, or NOI for short, is a formula those in real estate use to quickly calculate profitability of a particular investment. NOI determines the revenue and profitability of invested real estate property after subtracting necessary operating expenses.

How does the 200% rule work? ›

200% Rule.

This rule says that the taxpayer can identify any number of replacement properties, as long as the total fair market value of what he identifies is not greater than 200% of the fair market value of what was sold as relinquished property.

What's the property rental formula? ›

To calculate, first multiply the monthly rent amount by the number of months in the year to determine the income from rent; then, divide the income from rent by the appreciated home value. For example, if the monthly rent is $900, the total income from rent for the year would equal $10,800.

What is the best way to calculate rental? ›

When determining how much your rent should be:
  1. Estimate the monthly rent payment at 1% of your property's market value.
  2. Study the neighborhood competition, especially properties with comparable size and amenities.
  3. Make sure the rent covers expenses such as mortgage and maintenance costs.

What is the 100 10 3 1 rule? ›

Many real estate investors subscribe to the “100:10:3:1 rule” (or some variation of it): An investor must look at 100 properties to find 10 potential deals that can be profitable. From these 10 potential deals an investor will submit offers on 3. Of the 3 offers submitted, 1 will be accepted.

How do you calculate what an investment will be worth? ›

You can calculate future value with compound interest using the formula future value = present value x (1 + interest rate)n. To calculate future value with simple interest, use this formula: future value = present value x [1 + (interest rate x time)].

How do you calculate if an investment is worth it? ›

The most common is net income divided by the total cost of the investment, or ROI = Net income / Cost of investment x 100.

What is the formula for ROI on an investment property? ›

ROI on a real estate rental property is calculated using the following formula: ROI = (Gain on investment – Cost of investment) / Cost of investment.

How do you determine if an investment creates value? ›

A company creates value when its investments earn a return higher than the opportunity cost of capital. You can imagine that there are some very large addressable markets with poor prospects for value creation and some small markets with excellent economic prospects.

How do you calculate future value of a property? ›

To calculate the expected future value based on your growth rate, add one to the rate, and raise this to a power equal to the number of years you're looking at. As a mathematical formula: Finally, multiply this future growth factor by the current value of the property.

What is the value in 5 years of $1,000 invested today? ›

Formula and Calculation of Future Value

For example, assume a $1,000 investment is held for five years in a savings account with 10% simple interest paid annually. In this case, the FV of the $1,000 initial investment is $1,000 × [1 + (0.10 x 5)], or $1,500.

What is the future value of $100 at 10 percent simple interest for 2 years? ›

Answer: If the Interest Rate is 10 Percent, then the Future Value in Two Years of $100 Today is $120.

What is a good cap rate for rental property? ›

Market analysts say an ideal cap rate is between five and 10 percent; the exact number will depend on the property type and location. In comparison, a cap rate lower than five percent denotes lesser risk but a more extended period to recover an investment.

What is the average ROI on investment property? ›

What is an average ROI on real estate? According to the S&P 500 Index, the average annual return on investment for residential real estate in the United States is 10.6 percent. Commercial real estate averages a slightly lower ROI of 9.5 percent, while REITs average a slightly higher 11.8 percent.

What is the average return on a rental property? ›

Even better, the average return on investment for a California rental property is 1.6%. While you might not think that's impressive, remember it's the average for the entire state.

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