#multifamilysyndication

Investing in commercial real estate offers a unique advantage - the ability to create value and generate higher returns over time.

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Imagine with me, that your workday began with the usual routine, but halfway through your morning, you received the news you’d been laid off.

For most Americans, that means zero income starting tomorrow morning. 

Now, let’s pretend that during your employment, you leveraged your money.

The rich don’t work for money. They make their money work for them. – Robert Kiyosaki

Three Types of Income

Most people’s income is active, which means it’s from a consistent paycheck. But wealthy people typically earn Residual or Passive income (or both!).

Active Income

Active income is from your employer and requires activity in exchange for money.  When you stop, the income stops. 

Residual Income

Residual income means you receive money after the work is done. For example, every book an author sells provides residual income.

Passive Income

Passive income is earned with very little effort and continues flowing even when you aren’t working. Real estate investments are one of the most stable sources of passive income. 

Remember the job loss scenario? Let’s pretend you’d built passive income, on the side, during employment. 

Since being laid off, your earnings decreased by your monthly salary amount, but you still have income. 

Financial freedom is achieved when your earned passive income supersedes your active income. 

Investing in Stocks vs. Real Estate

Historically, the stock market returns about 8% annually, which means $100,000 would produce roughly $8,000 per year. That’s only $667 per month.

To replace an income of $3,000 per month, you’d need $36,000 per year, which would be 8% of $450,000. 

However, with real estate, $100,000 could buy a $400,000 rental home. How? 

The bank brings $300,000 to the table.

You put in 25%, the bank puts in 75%, and you earn 100% of the profits.

A $400,000 home renting for $3,600 with a mortgage of $2,100 would net you $1,500 per month. Theoretically, 2 investments of this size could replace a $3,000 monthly income.

The total rental income plus $25,000 in additional equity (based on 5% annual appreciation) equals $43,000, or 43% return in just one year.

In our previous post, we touch on the 5 Most Important Things To Know Before Investing In An Apartment Syndication.

But I Don’t Want to Be a Landlord

The numbers look enticing, but being a landlord does not.

This is where, instead, you join a small team to acquire real estate. 

When investing $100,000 in real estate syndication, it’s feasible to earn $8,000 per year (8%), similar to the stock market. 

However, the real opportunity lies in the sale of the asset. Syndications hold the property for about 5 years. During this time, building improvements are made and the land market value typically rises.

Upon the sale, you receive $160,000 ($60,000 in profit). This, plus the passive income of $8,000 per year (totaling $40,000), equals $200,000, which is a 20% average annual return.

If, while employed, you’re able to create passive income, you’ll be less stressed when facing a layoff. You may even find yourself celebrating unemployment.

Do Your Research Ask QuestionsConnect with Other InvestorsReview Previous DealsTake Your TimeConsidering Everything

When you first begin to consider real estate syndication as an investment option, it can feel lonely, intimidating, or even like you’re going in blindfolded. 

I personally experienced fears around investing in a property I’d never seen, concern about how I’d get my money back, and doubt around the inability to log into an account and see my money.

These fears were addressed head-on through research. Every article I read and every conversation I had built my certainty until I began to feel confident toward taking the plunge.

If you’re considering your first syndication and feeling hesitant, I recommend doing your research, connecting with other investors, reading through previous deals, and taking your time. 

The best way to build your investing confidence is through self-education and research. Listen to podcasts, read books, and find websites on real estate.

Books:

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

It’s a Whole New Business by Gene Trowbridge 

Principles of Real Estate Syndication by Samuel Freshman  

Podcasts:

BiggerPockets Podcast 

Best Real Estate Investing Advice Ever with Joe Fairless

The Real Wealth Show with Kathy Fettke

Relevant Facebook groups and forums like BiggerPockets can help you learn what questions you should be asking.

It’s likely that other people have asked about your same concerns and, just by reading through the forum’s questions and answers, you’ll gain clarity.

Remember there are no dumb questions and that you have the right to be diligent about gathering answers to your concerns. 

A successful investor needs a supportive community, and considering that syndication is a group investment, you’ll want to get networking.

Any new investors will share similar anxieties, questions, confusion, and excitement. Experienced investors can provide invaluable firsthand accounts of their experience with various projects and sponsors.

Find other investors through online forums like BiggerPockets, local networking events, or by asking sponsors if they’ll connect you to their current investors.

Finding comfort with financial projections, summary data, and investment lingo may feel overwhelming.

As you review more investment summaries, you’ll start to understand the flow of the deal packages, how each sponsor communicates, and exactly which investments interest you.

Each new investment opportunity fills up quickly. This can make new investors panic and start to believe they are missing the best deals.  

Remember, there will always be another opportunity. 

Allow yourself time to complete the steps laid out here, so that when you make your syndication choice, you are confident about every step.

If you take nothing else from this article, remember it’s completely normal to feel skeptical, anxious, and even timid when making your first syndication commitment.

The ability to take action is what separates the successful from those who give up. 

Your first real estate syndication deal is a huge milestone in your investing journey, and, even though your head might be spinning now, this is a time to savor.