How to Build Wealth With Real Estate (4 Ways)

In this article

Billionaire Andrew Carnegie famously said that 90% of millionaires got their wealth by investing in real estate. Whether that’s entirely accurate is up for debate, but it’s certainly true that real estate is a proven wealth-building strategy that continues to be a popular avenue for investment and financial growth.

Understanding Real Estate as an Investment

Real estate investing is a pathway for building wealth, distinct from other asset classes due to its tangible nature. This form of investment usually appreciates over time, providing long-term value growth. Real estate also offers the potential for rental income, transforming properties into sources of continuous revenue.

An important aspect is real estate investing’s role as a hedge against inflation, with property values and rental incomes often increasing alongside the cost of living. Investors in real estate benefit from various tax advantages, including deductions for mortgage interest, property taxes, and depreciation.

However, this investment type requires initial capital and involves ongoing maintenance costs. Successful real estate investment demands thorough market research and a strategic approach, particularly in choosing the right location and property type. 

By understanding and navigating these aspects, investors can use real estate to diversify their portfolios, generate passive income, and achieve their financial objectives.

4 Ways Real Estate Builds Wealth

Real estate offers many ways to build wealth, each with unique characteristics and benefits. In this section, we’ll explore four ways real estate builds wealth: appreciation, cash flow, tax benefits, and loan amortization.

Appreciation

Investing wisely in real estate can lead to substantial equity build-up and additional income. By choosing the right location, your property’s value has the potential to appreciate annually, thus adding to your equity.

Here’s a scenario using a rental property as an example. Consider a $100,000 single-family home with a $20,000 down payment and a 30-year mortgage at 5% interest. Over 30 years, tenants can cover the $80,000 loan and potentially generate $3,000 yearly income, totaling $90,000.

Additionally, if the property appreciates at 3% annually, its value would reach $235,656 in 30 years. Including a $30,000 remodel that boosts the property value by $45,000, your total investment grows significantly.

Thus, a $20,000 initial investment could yield you $340,656 in the long run.

Cash flow

Here’s the real reason you are reading this article: You want to make money in real estate. This is known as cash flow and is the money that an investor takes home after all expenses are paid.

A good investment cash flows most of the time. Notice the word “most,” because there will be times when your expenses exceed your income. Before investing, crunch the numbers to determine how much money a property can generate for you. 

Your upfront cash flow may not be overly impressive, but when you consider that the value is likely increasing over time and somebody else is paying down a mortgage for you, you can start to build wealth passively. You can also duplicate this until you achieve your income goals.

Taxes

Let’s dive into a topic that might initially seem dull, but is incredibly important in real estate investing: taxes. You might find that the more you learn about tax savings, the more fascinating it becomes.

Consider this: Owning just one rental property opens up a world of tax-saving strategies. These can apply to everyday expenses like your cell phone, internet bill, and home office setup, all of which can potentially be written off.

Remember this: The government actually encourages real estate investment by offering incentives like additional tax write-offs and 1031 exchanges.

Tip: Consult with a tax professional about all tax-related matters.

Loan amortization

Amortization is the gradual reduction of a debt over a period of time through regular payments that cover both principal and interest.

Achieving this requires a smart purchase at the right price, in the right location, and with effective management. In many markets, rental income can cover most or all of your expenses, allowing for automatic wealth accumulation through consistent occupancy.

How to Get Started With Real Estate Investing

To start investing in real estate, first educate yourself about the market, different property types, and investment strategies. 

From there, assess your financial situation to determine your budget and investment capacity, including potential mortgage options. Finally, network with experienced investors and real estate professionals to gain insights and locate promising investment opportunities.

Our Real Estate Investing For Beginners: How to Get Started guide provides you with step-by-step guidance.

Final Thoughts

Real estate investing is a proven path to building wealth. It requires careful planning, market knowledge, and strategic financial management, along with patience and persistence. Taking the right steps today puts you in a position for consistent wealth accumulation in the future.

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.