When thinking of retiring and using real estate to help aid that retirement, many people believe their options are to pay off their house, or to even borrow against their home equity if they need money. However, an even better option is to invest in real estate in order to build your retirement income.

If you purchase an investment property now, you can use the rental income to help pay the mortgage. Depending on how old you currently are, and what mortgage term you choose, it’s best to select one that would help you to pay the loan in full by the time you want to retire. If the mortgage is paid in full, you then have the choice of keeping the property and continuing to receive the net rental income, or you can sell your mortgage-free property and keep the earnings.

Rather than try risky investments, or even house flipping, a rental income retirement strategy allows you a steady and secure income. You’re generating cash flow every month with the rent your tenants pay, and often your return on investment for rental income is in the 5-10% range, depending on the investment.

There are also many other advantages for investing in real estate and using it towards your retirement income. When investing, it’s always smarter and safer to have a diverse portfolio. Instead of just relying on stocks, real estate is a great alternative source of income. Appreciation is also key in real estate investing, as long-term rental properties tend to appreciate over time. Also, if you plan on keeping the property long-term, rent prices have shown that they generally rise over time alongside inflation. You can also benefit from many tax advantages. Real estate investing can save you money, as it comes with many tax deductible expenses like renovation expenses, management fees, and other ownership-related expenses.

To help you better understand your investing-towards-retirement options, or to answer any of your questions, please feel free to reach out to one of our loan officer’s today. It’s never too early to start planning for your future, and real estate investing can be a great opportunity to help set you up financially!