Experienced real estate investors know even small factors can make or break their wealth-building efforts. While broadly, that single factor is due diligence, we want to get a little more specific. We’re talking about what your residents really want.

Between higher interest rates, stubbornly high property prices, and a competitive real estate market, you may wonder if investing in real estate is worth it anymore. And while the challenges facing the market (and investors) demand we pivot our strategies, none negate the benefits of investing in single-family rentals.

Homeownership hit at all-time low at 62.9% in 2016. While owning a home was once an integral part of the American Dream, we’re seeing it matter less and less to up-and-coming generations of homebuying age. Millennials and Gen Z, saddled with student debt and low wages, are often unable to afford a home – if they even want to buy in the first place.

We’ve all seen certain assets and investments go in and out of fashion.

However, real estate has long been a cornerstone of the economy at-large, mostly because land is a finite resource and shelter is an essential human need. There will always, then, be a demand for real estate in some form or fashion. For an investor, this lends certain reliability and stability that you would not find in other asset classes.

If you’re like most people, you’re feeling the squeeze of a tight, tough economy. At the same time, SFR investments are attracting more investors than ever! Throwing your proverbial hat into the ring might seem like a bigger challenge, but SFR investing makes it well worth it.

Fix-and-flip investments might make for compelling programming on HGTV, but investors prefer buy-and-hold rental properties. A recent Investor Sentiment Survey from RCN Capital demonstrated that rentals were the most popular of the three types of residential real estate investments.

With the market favoring selling so thoroughly, you might consider selling one or more of your investment properties. After all, it seems like a prime opportunity! But before you prepare that listing, wait. There are compelling reasons to hold your properties for the long haul – even when conditions make selling an attractive prospect.

How do you know whether or not a property would make a good investment? In today’s real estate climate, opportunities come and go in a flash. Investors must be able to quickly evaluate whether or not any given property would make a good investment – not just in general, but for their specific, unique portfolio.

Because investing in real estate is a numbers game, getting those numbers to fall in your favor is everything. While maximizing profits and minimizing expenses is sound on paper, it doesn’t always work in practice.

There are plenty of compelling reasons to invest in single-family rentals, including it's popularity as a stable asset for long-term earning potential.