What does it mean to say a real estate market is “hot”? Should investors even care?

Are we headed for a recession? Research from J.P. Morgan has raised the probability to 35% for a U.S. recession by the end of 2024, with unchanged odds at 45% for 2025. Those aren’t percentages to sneeze at. Even if a recession doesn’t come soon, it’s still on the horizon.

Every real estate investor starts with one property, but then what? Scaling your portfolio can feel as daunting as buying that first property. Some investors fear branching out into new markets or neighborhoods, worry about over-leveraging, or cringe at the thought of making a costly error. That’s all natural.

But at the end of the day, the only way to grow substantial wealth – the kind that leads to financial freedom – is to add properties to your portfolio.

When you do so with diligence, wisdom, and the right support in place, you put yourself in the best position possible to succeed.

Out of all the investment opportunities in the world, why invest in single-family rental properties? After all, it’s not the hottest or most exciting asset. But there’s a reason people have employed this investing method – with great success – for decades. Individual investors have specific goals: early retirement, financial freedom, generational wealth-building, etc.

When we talk about what makes a property an ideal rental, we often end up citing factors around the property rather than the qualities of the house itself. Things like location and proximity to amenities are of utmost importance – but it doesn’t mean any ol’ property in a good location will make a good rental.

What does it take to succeed in real estate investment? We’re sure you can think of plenty of skills and qualities. Honestly, so can we! But we want to boil it down to the essentials. Remember, hope is not lost if you’re not exceptionally skilled in these areas. Anyone can hone and enhance these skills to fuel their effectiveness as a real estate investor. And, for simplicity’s sake, we’re mainly referring to buy-and-hold SFR investing.

While these qualities apply on a broader scale, that’s the context we’re operating in, so that’s the kind of investing we’re speaking into!

Here are the skills you need to master:

2020 turned the real estate market as we know it on its head. While the fundamental rules of the business stayed the same, there’s no denying that the housing market reacted unpredictably. That’s not surprising in light of the uncharted territory of a global pandemic.

What’s the best way to buy an investment property? Just as there are many investment strategies, various financing options are at your disposal, each with drawbacks and benefits. While we certainly have avenues we recommend more than others, every investor should be well-informed about every option.

Mortgage rates are the highest they’ve been since the Great Recession. Current 30-year fixed rates hover in the 6 to 7% range. Historically speaking, that’s nowhere near the highest they’ve been (that title belongs to the average in October of 1981 at a sickening 18.82%. Yikes!), but current rates are coming off all-time lows in 2020 and 2021. 

With home prices higher than ever, it is no surprise that homebuyers are waiting patiently for mortgage rates to come down and ease sticker shock. After all, the higher the asking price, the more the percentage matters.

But is it wise to wait for rates to drop?

We think not. As real estate investors, you risk more in the wait than in taking the chance in the market as it is. Here’s why:

U.S. housing inventory is trending in the right direction. 

We saw a 12.9% year-over-year increase in new property listings in February. Although total inventory remains flat, we’re finally not seeing a decline in overall inventory for the first time in nine months.

As you’re likely aware, tight inventory is mainly responsible for the stubbornness of the housing market. Even when active demand seemingly froze market activity, prices haven’t budged. Inventory kept rising interest rates from easing home prices. It’s also made the supply and demand balance unsustainable.

Ideally, this increase in new home listings points to a turning point on the horizon. But there are a few problems – and reasons investors shouldn’t sit back and “wait out” low inventory.