What Type of Real Estate is the Most Profitable Investment | NuKey (2024)

Are you considering investing in real estate? Any idea how much money you could make as a real estate investor?

On average, a real estate investor’s salary ranges from $70,000 to $124,000. However, salaries will vary significantly based on the type of investing you do. Other factors are the time you devote to it, how many deals you take on per year, etc.

Many Americans believe real estate investing is a great way to build personal wealth. According to a recent CNBC Make It: Your Money survey, conducted in partnership with Momentive, 23 percent of adults said investing in real estate is an effective way to amass wealth. That makes real estate investing the most popular would-be wealth-building method, outpacing investing in stocks (16%), starting your own business (15%), and getting a second job or side hustle (12%).

So, what is the potential for you to accrue a significant amount of money through real estate investment? Which real estate types will generate the highest profits?

Let’s look at five types of real estate investing that have the potential to translate into a lucrative profession and reward you with a robust profit margin.

Interested in investing in Real Estate? NuKey Realty is here to assist you in finding the most profitable Real Estate options.

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1) Residential Real Estate

Residential real estate is comprised of several rental property types. The most common of these are single-family homes.

Examples of other residential properties include multi-family properties, vacation homes, and duplexes. Residential real estate is the perfect proposition for many investors because it tends to be easier to generate profits on a consistent basis.

Be aware that there are numerous strategies to deploy for residential real estate investing. There are also different levels of competition across markets. It’s important to keep in mind that what might be right for one investor might not be best for you. That is why it is important that you select the right exit strategy and market if you are to be successful at investing in residential real estate.

The most common exit strategies used in residential real estate include the following:

  • Rehabbing – an investor renovates a property to improve it.
  • Wholesaling – a short-term business strategy that investors use to make a quick and steady income in the real estate market.
  • Buying and holding properties (which could be used to generate rental income);

A residential real estate investment can yield substantial profits when done properly. Along with earning a consistent cash flow, residential real estate investing benefits from many tax breaks.

2) Residential Rental Properties

This is considered a safe path to take, as residential rental properties are a straightforward investment. As an investor in this type of property, you will generate money out of the monthly rent you collect from tenants. This type of real estate investment can be a money-maker, as long as you are aware of and prepared to handle the possible drawbacks.

And with the recent increase in interest rates that make home buying harder for many Americans, rental properties are an attractive option that you can cash in on as an investor or landlord.

You enjoy a guaranteed income on a consistent basis when you invest in residential rental properties. However, this property will need regular maintenance in order to maintain its value. A caveat to this type of investing is that some tenants will fail to pay on time or not pay at all.

You should also be aware that you may struggle to rent out some or all of your property for a period of time. The maintenance, late rent payments, and empty rental properties can all negatively impact your profit potential. So, if you have plans in place to address temporary financial setbacks like these, you stand to reap a healthy bottom line with this type of investment.

If you decide to sell your rental property, you will likely profit from the sale.

In order to position yourself favorably for maximum profit, invest in an area that shows growth potential.

Other factors to consider as a residential rental property investor are:

  • An increase in intrinsic value due to long-term price appreciation.
  • Benefits of depreciation – and available tax benefits.
  • Cost-benefit analysis of renovation before sale to get a better price.

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If you want to increase your chances for success in this area of real estate investment, then invest in office, retail, industrial, multi-family, or hospitality projects. Commercial real estate investing could also prove beneficial if your goal with this form of investing is to improve your local community.

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
  • Longer leases
  • Lower vacancy rates than other types of real estate

With commercial real estate, you will be renting to a business instead of an individual. This means the entire process should be straightforward and smooth, as businesses typically care about their image – increasing the chances of them properly managing the property.

Another perk of investing in commercial properties is that companies tend to pay their rent in a timely fashion because they don’t want to lose their space.

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4) Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Real Estate trusts or REITs are companies that own different commercial real estate types. They include:

  • Shops
  • Hotels
  • Offices
  • Restaurants
  • Malls

You are able to invest in shares of these real estate companies on the stock exchange. When you invest in a REIT, you’re investing in the properties these businesses own without the additional risk of owning the actual property.

A requirement for REITs is to return 90 percent of their taxable income to shareholders on an annual basis. This allows investors to receive dividends while simultaneously diversifying their portfolio.

Publicly traded REITs provide flexible liquidity compared to other real estate investments. Whenever you need emergency funds, you can sell your shares of the company on the stock exchange.

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5) Crowdfunding Platforms

This type of real estate investment could earn you a sizeable profit. That is because crowdfunding platforms give investors access to several assets that churn out high returns. This type of investment tends to draw the most interest from the wealthy.

The flipside to the potential for high returns is that crowdfunding platforms introduce a high amount of risk. They are usually limited to accredited investors or people with high net worth. There are also certain sites that offer access to non-accredited investors.

The primary types of real estate investments through crowdfunding platforms are non-traded REITs or REITs that are not on the stock exchange.

With respect to non-traded REITs and crowdfunding platforms, your funds can be invested for several years, however, with no possibility of withdrawing your money when you need it.

Best Type of Real Estate Investment for You

Ultimately, while all of these aforementioned real estate types have the greatest likelihood of turning out high profits, knowing which one to choose will be largely based on the following criteria:

  • Your circ*mstances
  • Goals
  • Market area
  • Preferred investing strategy

Choosing the best type of investment property is a subjective assessment. Your decision will partly be influenced by how fast you want to realize a substantial return on your investment. You should also consider how much money you have to invest.

You must study the market thoroughly for whichever type of property you decide to invest in. It would be a good idea to conduct an analysis of the area and property that you’re interested in to determine the growth potential.

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Look to NuKey Realty as Spokane's Real Estate Experts

At NuKey Realty & Property Management, our experienced team of property experts has backgrounds in real estate investment and sales, real estate development, planning and design. Our team of specialized brokers can assist with any and all aspects of real estate purchase and sales.

When you are looking to invest in real estate, we are here to make the process profitable and stress-free.

What Type of Real Estate is the Most Profitable Investment | NuKey (2024)

FAQs

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

Which real estate investments are the most profitable? Commercial real estate investments tend to have higher income potential than other types of investments, with the added benefit of longer leases and lower vacancy rates.

What kind of property is best to invest in? ›

The best income properties have beginner-friendly attributes like low maintenance, available financing, and cash flow focus. Multi-family properties like apartments, townhouses, condos, and even student housing require less day-to-day effort from the owner and enable hands-off ownership.

What type of rental property makes the most money? ›

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.

Which real estate sector makes the most money? ›

1. Commercial Real Estate: Investing in commercial properties such as office buildings, retail spaces, and industrial facilities can be lucrative. Lease agreements with businesses tend to be longer-term and can provide a stable income.

What is the most profitable type of investment? ›

The U.S. stock market is considered to offer the highest investment returns over time. Higher returns, however, come with higher risk. Stock prices typically are more volatile than bond prices.

What is the highest paying type of real estate? ›

Top 10 Highest Paying Real Estate Jobs (Inc Salaries)
  1. Real Estate Investment Consultant. ...
  2. Real Estate Investor. ...
  3. Real Estate Broker. ...
  4. Commercial Real Estate Sales Agent. ...
  5. Real Estate Attorney. ...
  6. Residential Real Estate Sales Agent. ...
  7. Real Estate Developer. ...
  8. Mortgage Loan Officer.

Which real estate investment is best? ›

This article explores diverse real estate investment options suitable for various investor profiles and risk appetites.
  1. Rental properties. The traditional approach involves acquiring residential properties for rental income. ...
  2. Holiday homes and house flipping. ...
  3. REITs and ETFs. ...
  4. Fractional ownership of commercial real estate.
Apr 25, 2024

What type of home is the best investment? ›

Multi-family buildings tend to be the most profitable type of rental property. When you buy a multi-family home as an investment, you typically purchase an entire building of individual apartments.

What type of property is best for first investment? ›

Single-family homes typically require less low maintenance and may have higher appreciation potential, while multi-family homes offer the advantage of multiple income streams. Condos, on the other hand, can potentially yield lower returns due to common fees, but they often require less maintenance from the investor.

Do millionaires rent or buy houses? ›

Many wealthy would-be buyers can afford to wait to buy their dream home — so they're choosing to rent instead. Some may be waiting for lower rates and more homes on the market. Others may believe the housing market is overvalued, according to Realtor.com, and want to avoid overpaying for a property that may lose value.

Where do landlords make the most money? ›

Share this article
RankMetro AreaLong-term profit (monthly)
1.San Jose, Calif.$8,927
2.San Francisco$6,078
3.Los Angeles$4,328
4.San Diego$4,165
7 more rows
Aug 15, 2014

What is the best investment? ›

Overview: Best investments in 2024
  1. High-yield savings accounts. Overview: A high-yield online savings account pays you interest on your cash balance. ...
  2. Long-term certificates of deposit. ...
  3. Long-term corporate bond funds. ...
  4. Dividend stock funds. ...
  5. Value stock funds. ...
  6. Small-cap stock funds. ...
  7. REIT index funds.

What sector of real estate makes the most money? ›

7 highest paying jobs in real estate
  1. Real estate agent. Perhaps the most accessible and commonly known of all jobs in the property sector, real estate agents earn big from buying and selling property. ...
  2. Property investor. ...
  3. Real estate asset manager. ...
  4. Real estate lawyer. ...
  5. Property developer. ...
  6. Property appraiser. ...
  7. Real estate analyst.
Jul 31, 2023

What is the most profitable thing in real estate? ›

Here are the five most profitable real Estate ventures and the key factors and trends contributing to their success.
  1. Residential Real Estate Development. ...
  2. Commercial Real Estate Investment. ...
  3. Real Estate Crowdfunding. ...
  4. Real Estate Technology ( PropTech) ...
  5. Short-Term Rentals and Vacation Properties.
Dec 28, 2023

What real estate strategy makes the most money? ›

The most common way to make money in real estate is through appreciation. Appreciation is when a property grows in value. You might purchase a property for $400,000, and over the course of 10 years, it appreciates to a value of $500,000. Sell the property, and you'll have profited $100,000.

What branch of real estate makes the most money? ›

Real Estate Broker

A real estate broker is permitted under law to negotiate and organize real estate dealings. A career as a real estate broker is one of the highest paying and lucrative professions in the real estate industry. On average, experienced brokers take home a six-figure pay.

What type of property has the highest ROI? ›

Commercial real estate: Commercial real estate investments can bring about higher returns than residential investments due to the fact that you can get higher rents for them. Commercial properties regularly also have longer leases, bringing in a more stable income stream.

What is the fastest way to build wealth in real estate? ›

So let's jump into how to build wealth with real estate.
  1. Property Appreciation. One of the easiest ways to build wealth through real estate is through property appreciation. ...
  2. Rental Income. ...
  3. Leverage. ...
  4. Tax Benefits. ...
  5. Flipping Properties. ...
  6. Buy and Hold. ...
  7. Real Estate Can Bring Long-Term Wealth.
Apr 30, 2024

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