Between REITs and crowdfunding, there are more ways to earn passive income from real estate than ever. So many of these avenues promise lucrative results for little effort on the investor’s part. Why, then, should real estate investors consider single-family rentals instead? After all, don’t they demand more of your time, money, and attention?

Can’t you get the same results with less effort?

If time is money, investors can’t afford to dilly-dally. Maybe you feel content with your portfolio as-is. You don’t feel the need to grow. Or perhaps you’re hesitating because the market seems inhospitable. Regardless of the reason, it’s much harder to regain momentum once you’ve lost it.

Let’s clarify: to truly build wealth through real estate, you must scale your portfolio. One or two properties won’t cut it. Our time is limited, too, and we must make the most of it.

But we get it, too – sometimes you lose interest, have bigger priorities, or don’t feel motivated. It happens to the best of us. So, how do you power through these seasons and keep up that real estate investing momentum?

Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part. We’re a distracted and busy people. That busyness can derail the best intentions, delaying and diminishing potential returns. Maybe you’ve been considering investing in real estate for a long time. It’s something you want to do, something you know you should do for your financial future.

You just keep kicking the can down the road.

Is the Spring homebuying season kicking off in January? Some experts think so, with lowered interest rates drawing buyers back to the housing market. There’s no doubt that the decline will be gradual over the next few years, but it won’t stop activity from kicking back up. 

Just as the smallest rise in rates meant adding hundreds of dollars to mortgage payments, a decline – even a tiny one – represents greater savings and housing affordability. It should be no surprise that investors want to make acquisitions in 2024. But how does a real estate investor wisely prepare?

2023 presented some unique challenges for real estate investors. But as much as we can bemoan rising interest rates and stubbornly high property prices, the current market – and the market we’re likely to see in 2024 – has a lot going for SFR (single-family rental) investors.

Remember: your success in this business isn’t decided by the sway of the market. It all comes down to your fundamentals and a willingness to adapt your strategy to suit your needs under the full gamut of market conditions.  Including...remembering that time in the market matters more than timing the market.  Just getting in, getting started or getting growing is enough to put an SFR investor ahead of the masses who are waiting for big shifts and changes before making their next moves.

It’s hard to deny that 2023’s real estate market has been frigid. After all, this year’s total home sales are shaping up to be at the lowest levels since 2011 and the peak of housing crash-induced buyer anxiety. That said, the experts are feeling cautiously optimistic about the real estate market for 2024.

It might be cliché to think of a new year as a clean slate, but it can still be a beneficial way to think about it. Besides getting in shape, financial health is one of the top priorities among those who make New Year’s Resolutions. Regardless of where you are with your financial goals, now is a great time to refocus. And what better way to do that than through a financial advisor?

Tired of making the same old resolutions about finally using that gym membership? Maybe it’s time to shift your gears towards financial resolutions. Real estate investors are in a prime position to renew their efforts in the new year, riding the wave of resolve. But what should a passive real estate investor’s new years’ resolution look like?

Investor-influencer Grant Cardone was recently in hot water in the form of a class-action lawsuit alleging fraud and false promises through his real estate investment fund. You can read all about it on Bigger Pockets (linked above) and other news outlets. Regardless of how the lawsuit has turned out, we see it as a cautionary tale to passive investing hopefuls.

Ahhh. There’s nothing like a shiny new year to reinvigorate the spirit! Even if your 2015 was less-than-satisfactory, now is the time to start the year off on the right foot. To dust yourself off, renew your resolve, and get sh...., umm, get stuff done!  (Kerry Espuga would be frowning at me right now for using non-words like umm!)

If this is the year you’ve chosen to make the leap into real estate investment, great! If you’re a brand new investor, you’ve got a lot of work to do. Some of the biggest mistakes you can make will be right here, in the beginning.

So whether you are experienced or new, there are some steps you can take right now to start your passive investment path on the right foot.  We’ve got a few words of advice here and hope this helps you get going: