What Are the Typically Expected Returns of Investing in Real Estate? (2024)

Real estate investing can be highly lucrative. But it all depends on the particular deal. Some real estate investments provide great returns, while others … not so much.

That’s why it’s so important to understand typical returns in real estate and how to calculate them.

In this post, we’ll go over different types of real estate investment returns, ways to measure them, factors that impact real estate investment returns, and more.

Let’s get started!

Contents

  • Types of Real Estate Investment Returns
  • Metrics to Measure Real Estate Investment Returns
    • Return on investment (ROI)
    • Capitalization rate (cap rate)
    • Cash-on-cash return (CoC)
  • Factors That Impact Real Estate Investment Returns
    • Location
    • Property type
    • Investment strategy
    • Market conditions
    • Financing options
  • Average Returns on Real Estate Investments

Types of Real Estate Investment Returns

Before you can know what returns to expect from real estate investing, you need to understand the different ways in which real estate generates returns. These include the following:

  • Capital appreciation is perhaps the most obvious source of real estate investment return. It refers to how much a property gains in value over time. So if you buy a property for $100,000 and you are able to sell it later for $200,000, your capital appreciation would be $100,000 ($200,000 – $100,000 = $100,000).
  • Rental income is another common source of return in real estate investing. It refers to how much rent a property generates from tenants. According to World Population Review, the average American renter pays $1,326 per month for rent, and those who rent single-family homes pay an average of $2,018 per month.
  • Tax benefits are another way in which real estate generates returns (in a roundabout way). Real estate investing offers a number of tax breaks like the ability to write off property management expenses, deduct property depreciation, and defer capital gains taxes through 1031 exchanges. As a result, you’ll earn more of your money back when you invest in real estate than you would if you invested in other less tax-advantaged assets.
  • Leverage is one of the best features of real estate investing because it allows you to earn returns on borrowed money. For example, if you buy a $300,000 house with a mortgage that requires only a 20% down payment, you get to benefit from returns generated by the full value of the house ($300,000) and not just the $60,000 that you put in.

Metrics to Measure Real Estate Investment Returns

Now that you better understand the ways in which real estate investing generates returns, let’s go over some common metrics you can use to calculate real estate investment returns.

Return on investment (ROI)

The most basic return formula is return on investment (ROI). It goes like this:

What Are the Typically Expected Returns of Investing in Real Estate? (1)

ROI = Profit / Investment

In other words, you must divide the amount earned by the amount spent. So if you earn $10,000 on an investment that cost you $100,000, your ROI would be 10% ($10,000 / $100,000 = 0.1).

Capitalization rate (cap rate)

Cap rate is the most popular way to gauge a real estate investment’s return potential. It measures the return of a property over a one-year period, assuming the property is paid for in cash and not financed. The formula looks like this:

Cap rate = net operating income / current market value

So let’s say you want to buy a property that costs $500,000. After accounting for property expenses, the property brings in a total of $50,000 in operating income. In that case, the property’s cap rate would be 10% ($50,000 net operating income / $500,000 current market value = 0.1).

Cash-on-cash return (CoC)

Cash-on-cash (CoC) return compares a property’s annual pretax cash flow to the total amount of cash invested. It’s particularly helpful for gauging the profitability of real estate investments that use a mortgage. Here’s how it’s calculated:

What Are the Typically Expected Returns of Investing in Real Estate? (2)

CoC Return = annual pretax cash flow / total cash invested

So let’s say you buy a property that costs $1 million by getting a mortgage that requires a down payment of $100,000 (10%). After one year, you also had to pay $25,000 in loan payments (of which $5,000 is a principal repayment) and $10,000 in maintenance costs, making your total cash invested $135,000 ($100,000 down payment + $25,000 loan payments + $10,000 maintenance costs = $135,000).

After one year, you also decide to sell the property for $1.1 million. Once you pay the remaining mortgage debt of $895,000 ($1 million mortgage – $100,000 down payment – $5,000 principal repayment = $895,000), your cash inflow would total $205,000 ($1.1 million sale – $895 remaining mortgage debt = $205,000), and your cash flow would equal $70,000 ($205,000 cash inflow – $135,000 cash outflow).

At that point, your cash-on-cash return would equal 51.9% ($70,000 / $135,000 = 0.519).

Factors That Impact Real Estate Investment Returns

There are many factors that impact real estate investment returns. By understanding what they are, you can better assess property deals. Here are some of the biggest factors to consider:

Location

The biggest factor that impacts real estate investment returns is location. Why? Location affects:

How much rent you can charge as rental housing demand and supply vary by area.
How much a property will appreciate as some areas are positioned for stronger economic growth and development than others.
Resale value since properties in areas with low crime rates, good schools, better amenities, and so on tend to command higher prices than those in undesirable areas.

Property type

Property type also impacts what real estate investment returns you can expect. Properties can be divided into two categories:

Commercial real estate, which includes office buildings, warehouses, hospitals, shopping centers, and other businesses.
Residential real estate, which includes single-family homes, multi-family apartment buildings, duplexes, condos, townhouses, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and more.

Investment strategy

Real estate investing returns also depend on your investment strategy. Some of the most common investment strategies include:

  • Buy-and-hold. This strategy relies on buying a property and holding it for a long period of time so you can profit from its appreciation.
  • Fix-and-flip. This strategy (aka house flipping) involves buying distressed properties at a discount, renovating them, and then selling them again for a profit.
  • Rent it out. This strategy relies on charging rent to long-term tenants or short-term guests (e.g. via short-term rental platforms like Airbnb or VRBO).
  • Real estate investment trusts (REITs). This strategy involves investing in a trust that purchases and manages properties for you. It’s relatively hands-off, but it also comes with management fees.
  • Private real estate funds. This strategy lets you invest in a private fund that buys and manages properties. Unlike most REITs, these funds aren’t publicly traded and offer more diversification as a result.

The investment strategy (or combination of investment strategies) you choose will have a major impact on the returns you can expect.

Market conditions

Market conditions will also affect real estate investment returns. Some of the biggest components of the real estate market include:

  • Demographics. The demographics of a market’s population (people’s age, gender, race, income, etc.) have a big impact on housing demand and supply (and therefore also real estate investment returns). For example, many from the millennial generation (those born between 1981 and 1996) are entering the housing market, which could increase demand and potential returns on investment properties.
  • Interest rates. Interest rates have a direct impact on mortgage rates, which have a direct impact on real estate investment returns. For example, if interest and 30-year fixed mortgage rates are above 6%, you’ll pay much more in interest over the lifetime of a home loan than you would if they were only at 3%.
  • The economy. Real estate investment returns are also sensitive to the health of the overall economy as measured by indicators like global domestic product (GDP), unemployment rates, inflation, and more. If the economy is down, the real estate market probably is, too.
  • Government policy. Government policy can have a direct impact on real estate investment returns through tax incentives, deductions, and subsidies. For example, in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crash, the U.S. government introduced a first-time homebuyer’s tax credit, which incentivized homeownership and increased investment returns as a result (the program expired in 2010).

Financing options

Returns on real estate investments also depend on the type of financing you can leverage. On top of paying in cash, investors may be able to finance deals through:

  • Conventional mortgages. These are traditional home loans that usually require a 20% to 30% down payment and good credit history.
  • Hard money lenders. These are short-term home loans with high interest rates offered by licensed lenders. Hard money loans are easier to qualify for, but they also tend to be more expensive.
  • Private money lenders. These are loans from private individuals, usually family members or friends, that are secured by a legal contract. Terms can vary widely.
  • Seller financing. These are home loans offered by the seller directly. Essentially, the seller acts as the bank to whom the buyer makes a down payment and pays regular installments.

Average Returns on Real Estate Investments

As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into real estate investment returns. But if you want to know the average annualized returns of long-term real estate investments, it’s 10.3%. That’s about the same as what the stock market returns over the long run.

However, real estate offers a higher return than the stock market when adjusted for real estate investment risk. Compared to stocks, property values are less volatile and a less risky investment overall.

Interested in taking advantage of high returns with relatively low risk?

Then real estate investing might be for you. Just be aware of all the factors that affect your rate of return (discussed above).

And if you want to build a fixed-income portfolio of single-family rental (SFR) properties, consider investing in the Invest.net SFR Fund I.

It offers above-average cap rates as well as increased diversification with properties spread out across the midwest.

Contact us today to learn more. We look forward to chatting!

What Are the Typically Expected Returns of Investing in Real Estate? (2024)

FAQs

What is the expected return on real estate investments? ›

Average Returns on Real Estate Investments

As you can see, there's a lot that goes into real estate investment returns. But if you want to know the average annualized returns of long-term real estate investments, it's 10.3%.

What is the typical return range on 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%.

What is a good return on investment for investment 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 a reasonable expected return on investment? ›

A good return on investment is generally considered to be about 7% per year, based on the average historic return of the S&P 500 index, and adjusting for inflation. But of course what one investor considers a good return might not be ideal for someone else.

Is 5% return on real estate investment good? ›

Finding the right rental property

It all boils down to your return on investment (ROI). 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.

How to calculate return on investment? ›

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 average real return? ›

An average return is calculated the same way that a simple average is calculated for any set of numbers. The numbers are added together into a single sum, then the sum is divided by the count of the numbers in the set.

What is a good internal rate of return real estate? ›

The internal rate of return (IRR) is a metric used to measure the return on a real estate investment considering the time value of money. It factors in cash inflows and outflows, and it is important when comparing real estate investment opportunities. A good IRR in real estate is around 18-20%.

Is it a good idea to invest in real estate? ›

The benefits of investing in real estate are numerous. With well-chosen assets, investors can enjoy predictable cash flow, excellent returns, tax advantages, and diversification—and it's possible to leverage real estate to build wealth.

Is a 2% return on investment good? ›

Now, think about a real financial example: a 2 percent return. This may not sound impressive, but let's say you earned that 2 percent in a federally-insured, high-yield savings account. In that case, it's a very good return since you didn't have to accept any risk whatsoever.

What is the average profit on an investment 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.

How much of my investments should be in real estate? ›

Investing expert Barbara Friedberg says a real estate allocation of 5% to 10% is a good rule of thumb since real estate is an alternative asset class. At the same time, private equity and real estate investor and serial entrepreneur Ian Ippolito recommends putting as much as 13 to 26% or more into real estate.

Is 20 percent return on investment good? ›

There is no set percentage. Some agencies might be satisfied with a 5-percent ROI, while others might be on the lookout for a higher number like 20 percent for it to be considered good ROI.

What is a reasonable investment goal? ›

Fidelity Investments recommends saving at least 1x your pre-retirement income at age 30, 3x at 40, 7x at 55 and 10x at 67. If you think you'll need $100,000 per year after you retire, you should have $100,000 in savings at age 30, $300,000 at age 40, and so on.

What is the expected required rate of return? ›

The required rate of return (RRR) is the minimum amount of profit (return) an investor will seek or receive for assuming the risk of investing in a stock or another type of security. RRR is also used to calculate how profitable a project might be relative to the cost of funding that project.

Is 6% a good return on an investment property? ›

Now that you know how to calculate your cash on cash return, you are probably wondering “what is a good rate of return on rental property on a mortgage financed rental property?” Investors consider anything between 8% and 12% a good rate of return on rental property that is financed by a mortgage.

What is the 5% rule in real estate investing? ›

Applying the 5% rule would look like this: Multiply the value of the property you own/like to obtain by 5%. Divide by 12 (to get a monthly amount). If the resulting amount is costlier than you would pay to rent an equivalent property, renting your home and investing your money in rental properties may work better.

What is the 10% rule in real estate investing? ›

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.

How do you calculate return on investment for rental property? ›

The simplest way to calculate ROI on a rental property is to subtract annual operating costs from annual rental income and divide the total by the mortgage value.

What is the effective rate of return? ›

The effective rate of return is the rate of return generated by an investment when all factors impacting receipts are considered. This approach generates the most comprehensive view of the return on an investment.

What is the best way to calculate return? ›

A simple rate of return is calculated by subtracting the initial value of the investment from its current value, and then dividing it by the initial value. To report it as a %, the result is multiplied by 100.

Is a 7% return realistic? ›

According to conventional wisdom, an annual ROI of approximately 7% or greater is considered a good ROI for an investment in stocks. This is also about the average annual return of the S&P 500, accounting for inflation. Because this is an average, some years your return may be higher; some years they may be lower.

What is the return formula in real estate? ›

How Is ROI Calculated For Real Estate Investments? Although it may sound complicated, most ROI calculations are actually very simple. In general, the ROI of an investment is equal to the gain minus the cost, divided by the cost.

What is a realistic real rate of return? ›

According to many financial investors, 7% is an excellent return rate for most, while 5% is enough to be considered a 'good' return. Still, an investor may make more or less than the average percentage since everything depends on the investment's circ*mstances.

Is a 10% IRR good in real estate? ›

Generally, an IRR of 18% or 20% is considered very good in real estate. Generally speaking, a high percentage return (greater than 10%) indicates a successful investment, while a low IRR (less than 5%) might mean investors should reconsider their investment options.

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.

What is a good equity multiple in real estate? ›

An equity multiple of less than 1.0x means that you'd be getting back less cash than you invested throughout the hold period. So, very simply, you want to see an equity multiple greater than 1.0x. That means you are getting back more cash than you invested.

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

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 real estate the best long-term investment? ›

Gallup found more Americans identified real estate as the best long-term investment compared to other types of assets. Gold jumped in popularity this year with 26% of respondents identifying it as the best long-term investment, up from 15% in 2022. Just 4% voted for crypto, down from 8% in 2022.

Is it better to invest money or buy real estate? ›

If you're looking for a long-term investment, real estate may be the better option. There are no guarantees, but real estate tends to appreciate in value over time. If you're looking for a more passive investment, stocks may be the way to go.

Is 13% return on investment good? ›

Most investors would view an average annual rate of return of 10% or more as a good ROI for long-term investments in the stock market.

What is the return on a 1 million investment? ›

The amount of interest that 1 million dollars can earn per year depends on the interest rate, which can vary depending on the type of investment. Assuming a conservative average interest rate of 1%, a 1 million dollar investment could potentially earn approximately $10,000 per year in interest income.

Is 50% return good? ›

ROI of 50% can be considered good, but there are other factors to consider to understand if your investment was a good one.

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

The 50% rule in real estate says that investors should expect a property's operating expenses to be roughly 50% of its gross income. This is useful for estimating potential cash flow from a rental property, but it's not always foolproof.

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.

How much do most real estate investors make? ›

Real Estate Investor Salary in California
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$185,074$89
75th Percentile$146,884$71
Average$105,586$51
25th Percentile$78,338$38

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.

Is $5,000 enough to invest in real estate? ›

Despite the common misconception that you need a lot of financial capital to begin investing in real estate, you can start with as little as $5,000. Your chances of success can increase if you diversify your investments — especially should some deals not go as planned!

What is the 4% rule in real estate investing? ›

For more than 25 years, the most common guideline has been a rule known as the '4% rule. ' This rule suggests that a withdrawal equal to 4% of the initial portfolio value, with annual increases for inflation, is sustainable over a 30-year retirement.

Is 15% return realistic? ›

It is not worth your time to do any investment if it cannot bring you 12 to 15 percent per year. Investing properly is not a gamble. We should not lose money in the stock market on a long term basis. In fact, a near guaranteed return of 15% or higher is a realistic expectation.

How do I get 15% return? ›

Best way to get 15% p.a. on your investment
  1. Direct equity. Buying a part of a company from the stock market can prove beneficial because the company is growing, causing your investments to multiply. ...
  2. Real estate. ...
  3. Gold. ...
  4. Equity mutual funds. ...
  5. Debt mutual funds. ...
  6. PPF. ...
  7. FD.

What is the return on a 20 million investment? ›

Investing $20 Million in an S&P 500 Index Fund

Annual returns on an S&P 500 index fund over the past 50 years have averaged around 10%. Over the past decade, those returns have climbed to an average of 14% per year.

What is the 7% investment rule? ›

Let's say you have an investment balance of $100,000, and you want to know how long it will take to get it to $200,000 without adding any more funds. With an estimated annual return of 7%, you'd divide 72 by 7 to see that your investment will double every 10.29 years.

What is the 8% rule investing? ›

To make money in stocks, you must protect the money you have. Live to invest another day by following this simple rule: Always sell a stock it if falls 7%-8% below what you paid for it. No questions asked. This basic principle helps you cap your potential downside.

What is 15% rule investing? ›

The 15-15-15 rule is concentrated on investing in values of 15s. As per the 15-15-15 rule, mutual funds investors invest in ₹15000 SIP per month at a rate of interest of 15% for 15 years. And at the end of tenure, likely to generate approximately ₹1 crore.

Is real estate a better investment than the stock market? ›

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.

Is real estate a good investment for the future? ›

On its own, real estate offers cash flow, tax breaks, equity building, competitive risk-adjusted returns, and a hedge against inflation. Real estate can also enhance a portfolio by lowering volatility through diversification, whether you invest in physical properties or REITs.

What state has the highest ROI for real estate? ›

Investors probably need no explanation why and convincing that Florida tops the list of the best states for the long term rental investment strategy. Our nationwide rental market analysis shows that, on average, you can expect the highest rate of return in the Sunshine State.

What is the average rate of return on long term investments? ›

5-year, 10-year, 20-year and 30-year S&P 500 returns
Period (start-of-year to end-of-2022)Average annual S&P 500 return
5 years (2018-2022)7.51%
10 years (2013-2022)10.41%
20 years (2003-2022)7.64%
30 years (1993-2022)7.52%
May 30, 2023

Is real estate a good long term investment? ›

Long-Term Security

Real estate is a long-term investment, meaning you can hold it for several years as you wait for it to appreciate. At the same time, if you rent out your real estate you can earn monthly income while you wait for your property's value to rise.

Is real estate a good investment in 2023? ›

In my opinion, real estate is one intelligent option to consider in 2023, as it often has excellent returns, tax advantages and provides diversification even in the face of a challenging economic climate. Real estate also has the potential to compound your investment.

What is a good rate of return on 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.

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.

Is real estate a good investment for retirement? ›

Real estate can be an asset class with high returns. It also usually offers a hedge against inflation. Since real estate has historically been inversely correlated with conventional assets, it can be a good way to diversify your investments away from the stock market.

Is real estate the most stable investment? ›

There could be much more said about why investing in real estate is not only a safe hedge, but also an excellent one too. It's one of the soundest and most stable assets to have, as is shown in the growth and returns year after year from major portfolios.

What part of real estate is most profitable? ›

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 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.

Which state is best to buy a house? ›

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

Is 7% return on investment realistic? ›

According to conventional wisdom, an annual ROI of approximately 7% or greater is considered a good ROI for an investment in stocks. This is also about the average annual return of the S&P 500, accounting for inflation. Because this is an average, some years your return may be higher; some years they may be lower.

Is 10% return on investment realistic? ›

Yes, a 10% annual return is realistic. There are several investment vehicles that have historically generated 10% annual returns: stocks, REITs, real estate, peer-to-peer lending, and more.

What is the average return on investment last 10 years? ›

5-year, 10-year, 20-year, 30-year Average US Stock Market Return
PeriodAverage stock market returnAverage stock market return adjusted for inflation
5 years (2017 to 2021)17.04%13.64%
10 years (2012 to 2021)14.83%12.37%
20 years (2002 to 2021)8.91%6.40%
30 years (1992 to 2021)9.89%7.31%

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