By Glenn Mananeng
Inflation is an increase in prices for goods and services. In other words, as time goes by, your buying power becomes less compared to the previous years with the same amount of money. Picture yourself in the 90s and you have around $1 million dollars. Seems like a hefty amount of money especially if you’re thinking of settling in for retirement. Fast forward to the year 2019 and that same amount of money wouldn’t be as lucrative to save you up for the next few years to come. Inflation is something that has proven to be detrimental for most people. If we’re talking about investments though, a good investor can turn the negative face of inflation into something positive – and use it to their advantage. Strategy Properties is here to guide new and seasoned investors on how to deal with inflation and that they should actually welcome it.
Understanding Inflation
A deep dive into inflation shows that it’s more than just an increase in prices. Reduction of interest rates, changes in demographics, and an increase in the rate at which income is generated are several factors that come into play. Like what we’ve mentioned, the oversimplified result of it is an increase in the price of goods and services such as food, rent, real estate prices, and stocks. What doesn’t rise with inflation though is your money. To put it simply, your cash is worth less as time goes by, which is why holding it for long periods of time isn’t a good strategy when it comes to investing and inflation kicks in.
Real estate has been a popular choice for investors because the rising prices increase the value of a property over time. As the price escalates, the rental payment of tenants can also increase which would benefit property owners and landlords. Inflation is inevitable. It can either be at a high rate, a steady rate, or something in between. The best way to win against inflation is by using it to your advantage.
Why real estate is the best investment
Properties are more immune when it comes to recession. To put this into detail, let’s take stock market investing as an example. The stock market can offer big returns in a predominantly strong economy but becomes very risky when it dips down to a recession. Your investments, no matter how strong they are, can easily shift on a volatile market. In real estate, you become less prone to a loss when recession hits since properties are generally almost always in demand for housing or other purposes.
Real estate investment trusts (REIT) are companies that own and operate income-producing properties. Publicly traded REITs can give you the upper hand in the long-run. It also helps you broaden your investment choices with less capital involved. Some may argue that they can suffer losses due to inflation but the liquidity of these investments can even things out over time in terms of profits.
If done right, your investments will give you steady cash flow. The rental income from your tenants can go straight to paying down the loan principal, which accounts for most of the value in conventional loans compared to other investments that can’t offer a high enough return during inflation. Aside from that, the appreciation of your property increases in value especially when improvements have been made to it.
Choosing the right location for your investment property shouldn’t be underestimated too. Settling on an area that is in a strong and economically resilient market is more likely to achieve inflation offsetting returns rather than one with a non-diverse market with weak demand.
Choosing the right location for your investment property shouldn’t be underestimated too. Settling on an area that is in a strong and economically resilient market is more likely to achieve inflation offsetting returns rather than one with a non-diverse market with weak demand.
Strategy Properties is a team comprised of professionals with extensive experience and knowledge when it comes to real estate investment and all the ways to hedge against inflation. Make the smart choice by partnering with us and contact us through (734)224-5454 or sending an email at [email protected]. Let us take care of everything while you sit back and enjoy the fruits of your hard-earned investment.
