Skip to Content

Multi-family vs. Single-Family Homes

Burnet Multifamily Housing Building in a Modern NeighborhoodFor today’s rental real estate investors, opportunity comes in a wide assortment of properties. If you’ve been discussing whether to invest in multi-family or single-family rental homes, it’s important to note that there are both pros and cons for both. Basically, investing in rental real estate offers strong long-term profitability and relatively low risk. Lots of Burnet rental real estate investors specialize in one particular property type for a reason.

It requires time and effort to gain the expertise necessary to distinguish when you’ve found a great property at the right price. But if you need to settle on a decision or are hoping to expand your real estate portfolio, first take a closer look at what both multi-family and single-family rentals have to bring to the table.

When picking a specific property type, there are numerous things you’ll need to sort out before even starting your property search. For instance, you should analyze whether you will be able to secure the financing you need, whether you have the right investment team ready, and which property best suits your specific business acumen and investing style.

Numerous investors start by investing in single-family homes for a reason. While they may not really be “easier” to buy, they can be less threatening for investors who are just starting. Arranging to finance a single-family residence is a quite simple procedure that many investors are already acquainted with. Besides, learning the ropes by managing just one property and one tenant can help new investors get knowledgeable without feeling intimidated. There is a lot to learn about buying and managing rental real estate, regardless of what kind of property you pick.

On the other hand, investors can easily learn real estate investing by buying a multi-family property as a single-family rental. There will be more research required, and financing can sometimes be a challenge. But with multiple tenants, you can anticipate multiple streams of income to counterbalance the higher expenses. While all multi-family properties can offer steady income and higher profits, the smaller multi-family properties, such as duplexes or triplexes, can sustain great potential for rental property investors looking to branch out. Properties with four units or less can also be financed using conventional mortgages, making them more available in that way.

A few investors decide to invest in single-family properties over multi-family properties because they tend to have a more consistent appreciation and fewer challenges. Under typical conditions, both types of properties appreciate later on. But calculating potential appreciation on a multi-family property can be a bit more demanding than a single-family property.

This is particularly the case for property management, including leasing and tenant relations. The more tenants you have, the more time and effort it will consume to communicate efficiently with everyone, perform regular property evaluations, and conduct daily property maintenance. If you hire a professional property manager, you may be able to get a reduced rate for a multi-family property. But the dollar amount you will end up paying will be higher since that percentage is usually based on the number of tenants you have, not your total rental income.

At long last, it’s essential to factor your exit strategy into your real estate investing decisions. At the point when it comes time to sell your rental properties, single-family homes are easier to sell. This is because demand tends to be higher for single-family homes, and increased competition implies a better sales price for you. By comparison, selling a multi-family property can take longer and be much more complicated to arrange, simply because you are limited to investors looking for multi-family properties. Since they are investors, they will be a lot more likely to pass your property by if it isn’t priced low enough to make it worth their investment dollars.

Finally, the sort of property you decide to invest in is up to you. However, since you have a decent understanding of the pros and cons, you can choose what best accommodates your investing goals.

Now that you’ve invested, are you getting the most out of your location properties? Look no further than Real Property Management Highland! Contact us online or call 830-637-7880 and ask our Burnet property managers about our FREE market analysis.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details