Real estate is an increasingly trendy investment. Prices are low, interest rates are low, and opportunity is everywhere. But why is it right for you? Do you know the right investing niche for you?

Know Your Niche

I like to capture all five principles, but not all investments will do this. For example, if you pay cash, you lose the leverage aspect.

You also need to determine if you are you an active or passive investor. Do you want to be active and involved in the day to day grind? Or do you like getting paid each month for the diligence you did up front, such as the buy and hold or fix and flip investor?

Wealth Building Principles

Knowing your niche is as important to real estate investing as it is to any business. Let’s review of the five wealth-building principles so you can figure out which ones fit your plan.

1| Income: From cash flow

2| Deductions: Income from tax benefits

3| Equity: Tenants paying down your mortgage

4| Appreciation: 50-year national average is 6 percent per year

5| Leverage: Income generated by using other people’s money

How to Achieve these Principles

Active investors who do wholesaling and flipping can indeed capture four of the wealth building principles while the passive investor can obtain all five wealth building principles.

The big difference comes in the holding time. If you buy and quickly sell you lose the long-term benefit of each of these wealth building principles. Passive investors enjoy these benefits over the long term and they simply continue to compound. So, review the principles and get the right fit for you.

1| Income: Both passive investors and active investors can earn income from flipping, wholesaling or buy, rent, and hold.

2| Deductions: Passive (rent and hold) investors can deduct interest payments, depreciation, and costs associated with the business. Active investors (flippers and wholesalers) can deduct their cost of improvements and holding costs only.

3| Appreciation: Passive buy and hold investors love this one, as they can capture this for the duration of ownership. This is often considered the best wealth building principles and one that has made many millionaires. Active investors capture some appreciation through the value-play of converting the property to its highest and best use.

4| Equity: Equity build up is when tenants pay down your mortgage. Therefore, this one is only for the buy and hold investor

5| Leverage: Both active investors and passive investors can utilize leverage. Active investors wholesaling and flipping can indeed capture four of the wealth building principles. The passive investor can obtain all five wealth building principles.

Diversity is Key

Seasoned investors who have mastered their skills have learned to navigate back and forth as the market dictates which strategy will work effectively in the current market within a defined location. These active investor strategies can be used to create quick chunks of cash to allow for more passive investments.

Each investment category has benefits. Finding the niche that works for you, and accomplishes your short and long-term goals is the key. You should always master your niche before attempting another.


Note from Online Editor: This article has been brought back to life from our extensive archive. Originally published on May 2, 2014, it has been updated and republished for your enjoyment and education.
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  • Larry Arth

    Larry Arth is the founder and CEO of Equity Builders Group, a Florida-based real estate investment group. A 36-year veteran of real estate investing, Arth also is an international consultant and speaker who each year assists hundreds of investors, both foreign and domestic, in realizing their investment potential. He analyzes locations for economic strength and for the largest and most sustainable returns and, most importantly, sustainable turnkey investment. His focus is offering turnkey investments to the passive investor. Visit his website at www.howtobuyusarealestate.com.

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