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I have long been a fan of the wealth accumulating effects of investing in real estate. If you have the patience and the wherewithal to invest dollars in commercial real estate, only to let it grow and compound, you will likely wake up one day with the pleasant surprise of having amassed large amounts of equity. When you compare real estate as an asset class in the capital markets world (stocks and bonds), commercial real estate has certain advantages over its competition for investment dollars. Here are a few simple reasons why we love investing in real estate and the incredible wealth effects they can have:
Inflation + Real Estate Debt = Your Best Friend
If you have turned on the news lately, or purchased food, gas, or building products, you are aware that inflation has become a reality for Americans, and is looking more to be secular than transitory (meaning it’s here to stay). The recent CPI numbers came out this week and on average, through August 2021, we have hit 5.3% inflation for the past 12 months. How is inflation good for your commercial real estate debt? Let me explain: Most interest payments are fixed in nominal or unadjusted terms. Inflation makes this kind of debt less important in real terms. Raising the inflation target to 6% would substantially increase the rate at which the debt effectively vanishes over time. History has shown US central banks have used inflation to reduce its national debt. Therefore, holding on to cash is a losing proposition in an inflationary environment.
Tax Advantages Are Unmatched
We all know the largest expense we have is taxes. No other investment vehicle offers as many tax benefits as real estate, period. First, you can deduct expenses before you pay yourself a dividend. Secondly, you can depreciate your building in many ways, which is in effect an interest free loan from the federal government. Thirdly, you can utilize the 1031 exchange to trade up to a bigger and better property, while deferring those taxes down the road.
No Such Thing As Impulse Decisions
Your average human being cannot control themselves when it comes to the stock market. According to this CNBC report, “Investing based on emotion has consequences: Over the last three decades, U.S. stock investors have lagged the S&P 500 by more than 7 percentage points annually. Instead of holding on to earn market returns, investors shortchange themselves by trading in and out — at exactly the wrong times.”
Commercial real estate has its challenges; however, if you are invested with an expert in the market, and specific real estate product type, chances are you are going to win more than you lose. The long game of real estate provides security for you and your family. Schedule an initial call with us today to ask any questions learn more about what we do.