Generating Recurring, Passive Income Through Rental Investment Properties

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Every year, the temptation of passive income draws new investors to the rental market. Real estate remains a consistent investment opportunity, offering higher-than-average returns. With the average national rental income rate at 8% and rising, it is a great time to be an investor.

Whether you’re looking to start a college fund or save for retirement, real estate investing offers significant opportunities for long-term passive income through rental properties. However, investors will be the first to tell you that the rental industry is not without its fair share of risk.

For beginners looking to avoid unnecessary risks and achieve the highest returns, understanding passive income investments is essential to long-term success. 

What is Passive Real Estate Investing?

Passive income rental property investing is a strategy that, in theory, leans towards a more hands-off approach to investing. While the goal remains to produce a steady income stream, the level of participation in managing properties is less than that of active rental investors. 

Active vs. Passive Real Estate Investing

Unlike passive investing, active investing requires an investor’s ongoing participation, including time and effort, to produce consistent income. Active rental investing can involve short-term rentals, like vacation or Airbnb properties, or long-term residential rentals. Active investors often prefer more control over the management and maintenance of their investments.

Passive real estate investing requires little to no effort once a property is purchased, renovated, and put on the market. Like active investing, passive rental income is generated through short- or long-term rental properties. The caveat is that passive rental investors steer clear of property management and often hire a property manager instead.

For investors looking to create passive income from rental properties, the pros of hiring a property manager far outweigh the cons. While, on average, a property manager costs between 7% to 10% of a tenant’s monthly rent, experienced and professional property management companies are worth the price.

Aside from bringing a wealth of industry experience, property management teams handle the entire lifecycle of the rental process, including but not limited to: 

  • Preparation
    • Conducting initial and final walkthroughs
    • Reporting necessary repairs, painting, or cleaning
    • Coordinating with vendors to get work completed
  • Marketing
    • Taking property photos
    • 3D and in-person tours
    • Online listings
  • Tenant & Application Processing
    • Tenant screening, selection, and onboarding
    • Lease signing
    • Move-in
  • Tenant Communications
    • Rent collection
    • Property maintenance
    • Tenant support

Property managers alleviate many of the burdens of rental investing, freeing investors to focus on finding and optimizing the best passive income investments on the rental market. 

Optimizing Your Passive Income From Rental Properties

When it comes to generating passive income from a rental property, multiple aspects can influence your overall take-home. Let’s look at each of the key factors that can optimize your rental’s average income:

Location

While the average monthly returns from a passive income rental property hover around 8%, location can play a significant role in increasing or decreasing that number. Identifying the best areas for rental properties and top emerging neighborhoods is pivotal to optimizing rental income returns and maintaining a steady, recurring cash flow. 

To find rental area hot spots, look for cities with: 

  • Bustling job markets
  • Residential growth
  • Housing affordability
  • Low unemployment rates

Residential growth and housing affordability create a high demand for rental properties in these areas. A strong job market and low unemployment rate often translate to reliable and long-term tenants–helping to give you peace of mind and consistent passive income from your rental property. 

Property Type

The type of property you invest in can also play a significant role. Not only in your monthly passive income amounts but also in your cash flow consistency. While multi-unit properties offer immediate passive income opportunities, they often have higher turnover and vacancy rates. For beginner passive income investors looking to generate long-term, recurring cash flow, residential rental properties offer higher rents and lower turnover. 

Property Condition

The condition and appeal of a rental property can also impact the passive income for your rental property. Properties in good condition and offering modern features increase rent prices and attract higher-quality tenants. Savvy real estate investors remain in the know about the latest interior design trends and decor ideas that move the needle for homebuyers and renters. 

Financing

Last, but certainly not least, is the capital provider you choose to partner with. In real estate investing, financing speed and flexibility are essential to success. Thus, finding a lender with fast application and approval processes who can cater to your unique financial needs is pivotal.

Conventional mortgages through banks and credit unions come with significant oversight, strict guidelines, and substantial requirements. This creates long application processes and low approval rates, especially for real estate investors.

That is why experienced real estate investors turn to private lenders for real estate rental loans. Rental loans through private lenders provide rental investors with:

Flexible Terms: With less bureaucracy and governmental oversight, private lenders have the freedom and flexibility to tailor investor-friendly loan options for borrowers. Fast Approval Times: Quick loan approval processes allow investors to outpace their competition and capitalize on properties quickly. Property Options: While traditional mortgages are for the purchase of occupied single-family homes, several types of properties qualify for rental loans, including:
  • Non-owner occupied
  • Single Family Rentals (SFR)
  • 2 – 4 unit properties
  • Townhomes
  • Warrantable condos
  • PUD

No Prepayment Penalties: Banks and credit unions often penalize borrowers for paying off loans before they mature. Private brokers, on the other hand, have the power to eliminate prepayment penalties and encourage quick repayment.

DSCR Loan Options: Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) rental loans consider a property’s rental income (in-place or potential) during the approval processes and do not require W2s, paystubs, or tax returns. This makes it easier for private lenders to say “yes” to investors. (Understanding DSCR Loans)

CIVIC: Your Capital Partner for Passive Income Investment Success

Partnering with a reliable and flexible capital partner like CIVIC gives savvy investors looking to generate passive income through rental properties an edge over the competition.

Our Single Rental loan and Rental Portfolio loan options provide:

  • Competitive 30-year term loan options
  • Maximum rental flexibility
  • SFR, warrantable condos, townhomes, PUD, and 2-4 units eligibility
  • DSCR blanket loan with no W2s, paystubs, or tax returns required

CIVIC delivers the most simple, honest, and reliable lending solutions for real estate investors. With flexible terms and rates as well as prepayment options, we provide the capital and agility to get your property generating long-term, consistent passive income.

Want to partner with the market’s simplest and most reliable rental property capital provider? Fill out this form to schedule a FREE consultation today!

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