Of the 19.3 million rental properties in the United States, 85.6% are single-family rentals. By and large (70.2%), these properties are owned by individual investors. In fact, the smallest portion of rental properties are owned by real estate corporations and REITs – just 1.2%.

We all want to enjoy retirement. In this day and age, achieving financial security in our golden years is more challenging than ever. Statistics paint a picture of retirement realities. American workers have saved a median $97,000 for retirement. Compare that to the standard goal for a “comfortable” retirement, $1.4 million.

The threat of economic recession can mean devastation for traditional investors. Losses in the stock market can be so dramatic that those on the cusp of retirement may never recover in their lifetime. But that shouldn’t mean that investing is out of the question – only that we’ve got to prioritize investing in the right things.

Everyone has their reasons for investing in real estate but investing for retirement is by far the most common. That’s for good reason, too – real estate is widely regarded as the best way to build passive wealth!

The most successful real estate investors know that you must utilize every advantage at your disposal. One of those advantages is in utilizing a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) to invest. Here’s why you, too, should consider using an SDIRA in your real estate investment strategy.

At one time, it was thought that owning a home was a great investment. While this is true in a sense thanks to real estate being a hedge against inflation, your home alone isn’t something to hang your financial hat on. The truth of the matter is more complex: appreciation rates shift based on national, even global, economics, market-specific characteristics, and individual property qualities.

By the time you retire, you should be a real estate investor. You aren’t required to retire early to be successful. In fact, your investments don’t even have to totally unlock the coveted “financial freedom” raved about by the top voices in the industry.

Why do you invest in real estate?

Because real estate is a high-return asset class and a hedge against inflation, many would say that they invest for retirement.

We’re all after that level of financial freedom — one that allows us to tackle the unexpected without having to sweat and use our wealth to enjoy life on our own terms. Whether you’re looking to make an early or sustainable retirement or to build wealth for your family, real estate has long been a part of the equation.