A widespread misconception about investing is that you must have a large bank account to begin. In actuality, the process of developing a portfolio starts with a few thousand—or even a few hundred—rupees.
You are not alone if you want to invest in real estate but do not have a lot of disposable income. Many novice investors recognize the advantages of investing and owning in real estate. However, they lack the tens of thousands of dollars required to get started.
The emergence of modern-day investments strategies like crowdfunding and partial ownership has enabled anyone to invest in real estate on a shoestring budget.
So what exactly is real estate investment?
The acquisition, ownership, management, rental, and sale of real estate for profit are known as real estate investments. It is unquestionably an excellent investment option since real estate provides a unique mix of safety, consistent cash flow, and a high likelihood of financial gains. Also, a well-planned real estate investment ensures continual passive income. It is also an excellent long-term investment if the property value grows exponentially over time.
The assured flow of rental income and portfolio diversification are some advantages of investing in real estate. Because of the uncertainty and volatility of the stock and bond markets, most investors resort to hard assets such as real estate. There are various methods to get started in real estate investment without spending a lot of money.
Real estate, as opposed to other volatile investment products, is a stable and physical asset. Investors have selected real estate as a haven for their spare cash to achieve stable returns that at the very least outperform inflation. However, many people are perplexed about how much money to invest and what possibilities are accessible within their budget.
Real estate investing may be difficult, especially if one is a first-time investor. But the main issue that most purchasers have is finding the ideal property to invest in that matches their budget.
However, the Indian real estate market has a range of assets, including land, flats, villas, and commercial spaces.
So the dire question here is, how can you invest in the perfect property while staying within your budget?
Factors to consider in real estate investments
- Location: The first and most essential stage in real estate investment is to choose a desirable location. It is a crucial aspect in determining the value of your investment.
- Budget: After choosing a location, the next step is to calculate your budget to see how much money you can afford to put in the new house. If you are a first-time investor, you should speak with a skilled and trusted financial counselor to determine your bank loan eligibility and associated conditions. After you have estimated your budget, start looking into alternative possibilities that fit inside it. It is also critical to include other costs like registration fees, taxes, interior design, and furnishings while calculating the budget.
- Market: It is essential to do an in-depth examination of current market patterns. Knowing current market trends, pricing, interest rates, and development will help you understand the present market situation and plan accordingly. In India, for example, properties are registered under the RERA Act, which protects the rights of the purchasers and improves transaction transparency.
- Property size and type: Finding a suitable property might be difficult because they are all sizes and sorts. The cost of land varies according to its location, size, age, and kind. As a result, it is critical to choose the property in which you wish to invest.
- Purpose of the property: Another aspect during the property search process is understanding the purpose of the property. Various people will have different goals in mind when it comes to investing in real estate. In the case of real estate investing, recognizing your needs is critical.
- Debts clearing: Last but not least, paying off existing debts would enable one to realize the objective of purchasing the property. Banks will examine your credit score or debt-to-income ratio for a house loan to determine your trustworthiness. As a result, if you have a lot of pending bills, it is doubtful that you will receive a loan quickly. It is also crucial to maintain a good cash flow in your account to pay EMIs more easily.
Where can I invest in real estate with a shoestring budget?
- REITs: A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that invests in real estate that generates revenue. A REIT will often invest in many estate properties. REITs are similar to mutual funds. The main distinction is that REITs own commercial, residential, or industrial property or mortgage securities rather than stocks and bonds. As a result, REITs investors would get rental income, profits from sold properties, or payments on mortgage-backed securities loans. REITs also offer capital gains, but the regular dividend income is usually the most appealing feature. The earnings of the REIT are also not subject to income taxation. They payout 90% or more of their profits in dividends to their investors. However, the main reason to invest in REITs is that they permit smaller investment ticket sizes to investors.
Also Read: A Beginners Guide To Investing In REITs.
- Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Investments: The most attractive investment option is Commercial real estate investment. It is because, regardless of market volatility, commercial real estate investing generates a consistent source of cash flow and asset appreciation. It gets preferred by investors who are proficient in asset management and are not looking for rapid financial gain. Once owned, commercial real estate may be a hugely lucrative and consistent source of revenue for the foreseeable future. Office spaces, warehouses, and factories are examples of commercial-grade property ownership. But, because of the large sums of money necessary, CRE has remained the domain of HNIs and Ultra HNIs.Thus, middle-income investors only have the option of investing in volatile equities or low-interest fixed deposits.
- Real Estate Crowdfunding: There was a time when investing in real estate was a high goal for the typical investor. But, that is no longer the case. Real estate crowdfunding is a novel method of pooling capital into a real estate project by investors. They make money initially through rental revenue. Furthermore, crowdfunding enables investors to engage in high-end commercial real estate developments without managing the property themselves. In most cases, an operator controls the crowdfunded property, and all an investor has to do is spend their money to support the initiative.
Also, read What Is Commercial Real Estate Crowdfunding In India?
- Fractional real estate ownership: Fractional ownership is the ownership of a high-value asset by allowing unrelated people to share passive ownership. Also, investors can split the revenue and expenditures associated with this asset in proportion to their investment. Investors can diversify their portfolio through fractional ownership of assets such as commercial office spaces, warehouses, labs, parking lots, and industrial floors, among others. It is the ideal investment since all members share the expenses, earnings, and financial obligations involved with the property. An aspiring Joe can own commercial property according to their budgets thanks to this idea of investments. It, in turn, serves to shatter the monopoly of HNIs in commercial real estate investing.
Also Read Fractional Ownership In Indian Real Estate: What Is The Big Picture?
- Flipping: Flipping is a sort of real estate investment in which you buy a revenue-generating asset, usually an outdated property, with the potential for value increase through restorations and refurbishment. It is sometimes referred to as house rehabbing. It is a type of wholesale real estate investing in which investors do not buy a property for personal use but commercial purposes. Rehabbing properties is still one of the most profitable real estate investment techniques.
Also, read Flipping V’s Renting Houses: Which is a Better Investment Strategy?
Final Takeaway
In his book “Real Money,” renowned investor and hedge fund manager Jim Cramer revealed he initially began investing only a few hundred dollars. The lesson here is that it is not the quantity that is important. Instead, it is about getting started.
After all, a magnificent oak tree begins as a little acorn. Thus, starting with a small investment also helps you to expand your portfolio into something solid.
Assetmonk is a prominent WealthTech Platform in India, offering real estate investment alternatives in Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The IRRs range from 14 to 21 percent. However, to accommodate diverse economic levels, our items are organized into categories. Growth, Growth Plus, and Yield are the three categories. To view the website, click on the link above.
