Hello fellow investors!
Roti - Kapda - Makaan has been the three needs of us Indians and we strive to make that makaan a reality. Once the makaan works as a shelter it becomes our personal asset. When you go for the second or the third property for investment reasons then you should consider the following points before proceeding.
Yes, the returns are good in real estate. We have always stated that investments are not all about returns, it is about building your portfolio to become financially free. So instead of just comparing past returns of both asset classes and claiming equity is better than real estate or vice versa, we would like to consider other important aspects.
1. Real Estate will skew your Asset Allocation
Investing is all about the right asset allocation. Investing a major portion of your investments in real-estate could skew your allocation in that direction for a very long time.
Once the Real estate is added to your investments, your allocation is considered with 4 assets, Real Estate, Gold, Equity & Debt. Once you choose to buy real estate, it may take a few years for other asset classes to occupy a significant portion of your portfolio. Hence, you should check and consider the reasons for investing in Real-estate.
2. It is hard to assign “present value” and calculate ‘growth’
Most people talk about how much their property is worth without actually speaking to potential buyers. It is only when you do so, you realize what is the real selling price of it. People would rather wait and enjoy lower returns than sell their properties at a price lower than what they want/wish to receive.
There is no designated market price. He who haggles the best wins here. Because of the lack of such a standard price, it makes real estate risky as most times people are stuck with a price they have in their mind without actually checking it for real.
3. It is not liquid enough that you can sell whenever you want.
I am sure you have heard of this, you cannot sell a bathroom to meet a financial emergency unlike Equity, mutual funds, and some debt options which can typically be traded in small amounts and on any business day.
You need to have other liquid assets (i.e. have a balance allocation) to take care of your financial needs.
4. TAX cost, buying another property.
The tax on capital gains from real estate in a way encourages you to go ahead to buy another property. As per the law, if you want to avoid capital gains tax on real estate you should necessarily reinvest the same in another property or in section 54EC bonds (with low returns) for 3 years to ensure the capital gains are tax-free.
5. Difficult to sell emotionally
Many people post-retirement do not have enough fixed income and other liquid investments to manage their every day cashflows. They are still not able to liquidate their properties for cash and use it for a more relaxed late age. They have an emotional attachment towards it and then it gets rationally difficult to decide to sell.
6. Risk of renting out
No guarantee of regular income. One may need to constantly look for tenants. Issues with paying property and water tax, and the legal hassles associated with tenants not moving out!
We do not intend to discourage you from purchasing houses for the purpose of investments but it is about becoming aware of what are the issues you can face when you do so. Before taking the decisions about investing in real estate, do calculate your returns, the money you would make from the investments in real - estate, and know your numbers. A close analysis for real-estate purchases should be done in a similar way as you would do for any other asset.
Analyze your risk-taking capacity and your goals before you make the final decision.
Happy Investing!
Disclaimer: - The articles are for information purposes only. Information presented is general information that does not take into account your individual circumstances, financial situation, or needs, nor does it present a personalized recommendation to you. You must consult a financial advisor who understands your specific circumstances and situation before taking an investment decision.