{"id":22473,"date":"2021-03-04T08:53:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T16:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=22473"},"modified":"2026-04-06T07:17:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:17:46","slug":"buyer-types-of-real-estate-investments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-types-of-real-estate-investments\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Types of Real Estate Investments for Aspiring Investors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Though not entirely without risk, real estate is widely regarded as one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/10\/01\/real-estate-is-still-the-best-investment-you-can-make-today-millionaires-say.html\">best long-term investments<\/a> you can make. After all, you have to live somewhere, and owning a home means putting money back into your own pocket \u2014 instead of a landlord\u2019s \u2014 with each monthly mortgage payment.<\/p>\n<p>While homeownership is a common starting point for many hopeful investors, there are myriad types of real estate investments worth having on your residential radar. In this article, with the help of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/jordan-terrell-co-hl55040912\">Jordan Terrell<\/a>, a top agent and real estate investment expert based in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/westminster-co\/top-real-estate-agents\">Westminster, Colorado<\/a>, we\u2019ll take you through 11 investment options with a brief introduction as to which require the most time, effort, and money to pursue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"geo-cta widget-cta widget-cta--content     widget-cta--dark widget-cta--dark-blue-gradient\">\n    <div class=\"widget-element--content\">\n        <div class=\"widget-element--content-header\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"homelight logo\" class=\"widget-element--logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\" width=\"106\" height=\"25\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n        \n                <h3 class=\"cta-headline widget--bold\">Investing in Real Estate? Consult With a Top Agent<\/h3>\n                        <p>Hire an investor-friendly real estate agent who can help you get access to off-market properties at a discount and assess potential rental income based on market trends. HomeLight can connect you with investment property specialists at no cost.<\/p>\n        \n                <div class=\"widget-element--buttons\">\n            <a data-type=\"In Content CTA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-agent\/quiz\/buyer?#\/qaas=0\/\" class=\"cta-click-track widget-element--button\">Get Started<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Types of real estate investments<\/h2>\n<p>There are four main categories of real estate investing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Residential (buildings that house people)<\/li>\n<li>Commercial (spaces in which businesses operate)<\/li>\n<li>Raw land (undeveloped property)<\/li>\n<li>Third-party (investments into crowdfunding deals, investment trusts, and so on)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While some of the investment types we\u2019re about to get into can fall under more than one category, we\u2019re focusing here on residential real estate investing.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Peer-to-peer lending<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re keen to start investing in real estate but cash is limited, know that it\u2019s possible to invest with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-to-invest-5000-dollars-in-real-estate\/\">$5,000 or less<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Particularly if you\u2019re interested in helping others, peer-to-peer lending can be an interesting option. This style of investing involves putting your money toward individuals or projects you really believe in, such as helping someone to buy a home or make major repairs to a property.<\/p>\n<p>The three major players for real estate peer-to-peer lending are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peerstreet.com\/\">Peer Street<\/a>, a crowdfunding platform for homebuyers with investments that generally pay out in less than two years. You\u2019ll need to be an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.investor.gov\/introduction-investing\/investing-basics\/glossary\/accredited-investors\">accredited investor<\/a>, but you can start investing with as little as $1,000.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingclub.com\/\">Lending Club<\/a>, which offers more investment opportunities than just real estate and also requires just $1,000 to begin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prosper.com\/\">Prosper<\/a>, another personal loan platform that makes it possible to get started in micro-investing with as little as $25.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s worth remembering that even with a generous <a href=\"https:\/\/investinganswers.com\/dictionary\/r\/rate-return\">rate of return<\/a>, you\u2019re unlikely to amass great wealth by investing a few thousand dollars. Peer-to-peer lending can, however, be a great way to dip your toe into the waters of real estate investing with minimal risk.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Crowdfunding<\/h3>\n<p>Similar to peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding involves multiple people pitching in toward one cause and can be a compelling path for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-real-estate-investing-for-beginners\/\">beginning real estate investors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While platforms such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/aclk?sa=l&amp;ai=DChcSEwjc397ss_3uAhXChdUKHWR3AigYABAAGgJ3cw&amp;ae=2&amp;sig=AOD64_25V40WeCF-2imX0cd61tToLGz-JQ&amp;q&amp;adurl&amp;ved=2ahUKEwikzdjss_3uAhUDAmMBHSKpCDkQ0Qx6BAgeEAE\">GoFundMe<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/\">Kickstarter<\/a> are typically used to assist individuals or small groups with personal causes or new business ventures, real estate crowdfunding lets you and other investors pool your resources to fund real estate developers.<\/p>\n<p>Commonly, developers will purchase rental properties with the crowdsourced funds, and investors will make money by earning a small portion of the regular rental income.<\/p>\n<p>Real estate crowdfunding platforms you might check out include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crowdstreet.com\/\">Crowdstreet<\/a>, for owning a sliver of high-end properties with a minimum $10,000 investment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fundrise.com\/real-estate-strategies\">Fundrise<\/a>, which allows investment in real estate funds for as little as $1,000.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtymogul.com\/\">RealtyMogul<\/a>, a diverse platform for both beginner and experienced investors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.roofstock.com\/\">Roofstock<\/a>, which focuses on single-family home investments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brickfunding.com\/\">Brickfunding<\/a>, for comparing real estate crowdfunding projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. Real estate investment trusts (REITs)<\/h3>\n<p>You can look at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reit.com\/what-reit\">REIT<\/a> as a way of niching down in real estate investing. A trust acts as a company that focuses on a specific type of income-producing real estate \u2014 such as hotels, apartment buildings, senior housing, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>As with most investments, the more money you can put in, the more you stand to gain in the future, but REITs can be an attainable pathway into real estate investing for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-investing-in-real-estate\/\">everyday buyer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Fix-and-flip homes<\/h3>\n<p>If you have even a vague interest in real estate and own a television, you\u2019ve almost certainly watched a show or two about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-flip-a-house\/\">flipping houses<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The premise is simple enough: Find a home in need of renovation, buy it for a low price, fix it up, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/attract-buyers\/staging\/\">make it look pretty<\/a>, sell the property at a profit. Rinse and repeat as desired.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFlipping is a great way to make significant cash,\u201d says Terrell. Depending on your investment goals \u2014 as in, whether you\u2019re aiming for earnings now versus taking a more long-term approach \u2014 flipping homes can mean pocketing profits in a matter of weeks or months instead of years.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, anyone who has taken on home repair projects knows that there\u2019s often more to a job than meets the eye. The fix-and-flip approach can be fun for those who enjoy getting their hands dirty, but this type of real estate investment is not for the faint of heart (or wallet). You\u2019ll need to have the cash or credit worthiness to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/home-financing\/mortgage-loans\/\">secure financing<\/a> to buy the home, then you\u2019ll need funds to make the necessary repairs and upgrades.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re interested in flipping houses as an investment strategy, you\u2019ll want to have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/attract-buyers\/contractors\/\">trusted contractor<\/a> on your team to help with estimating project costs and executing the construction work.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22477\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22477\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"An image of a living room to demonstrate the different types of real estate investments.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-house.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22477\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Sidekix Media \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>5. Short-term rentals<\/h3>\n<p>With platforms like <a href=\"https:\/\/airbnb.com\/\">Airbnb<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/booking.com\/\">Booking.com<\/a> offering diverse alternatives to traditional hotel accommodations, maintaining a second (or third) property as a short-term holiday rental can be a lucrative investment.<\/p>\n<p>This option, however, is far from hands-off. After the process of buying, decorating, and equipping a holiday home, you\u2019ll also need to be mindful of the work that goes into turning over a home for new guests every few days or weeks. Tasks like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/house-cleaning-checklist\/\">deep-cleaning<\/a>, refreshing amenities, and replacing worn items involve both time and money that can eat into your profits if your rental isn\u2019t steadily booked \u2014 which can happen in the unfortunate unforeseen event of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/covid-19\">global pandemic<\/a>, for example.<\/p>\n<h3>6. Long-term rentals<\/h3>\n<p>Long-term rental properties are those with tenants who sign extended leases, which means you\u2019ll avoid the constant in-and-out traffic of vacation rentals.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/first-time-landlord-tips\/\">Becoming a landlord<\/a> is one of the most popular forms of real estate investing, and it is the approach Terrell most recommends as a long-term wealth-building strategy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith flipping, you\u2019re basically improving the property, taking the cash proceeds and giving 30% to the government, then letting someone else have that asset and they get to build wealth with it,\u201d says Terrell, noting that this is where it\u2019s important to understand your investment goals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe best way is to buy and hold the home, but that\u2019s a very long-term strategy. Some people just want the cash now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aside from the costs of acquiring (and likely renovating) long-term rental properties, you\u2019ll likely want the homes to be managed by a professional. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/first-time-landlord-tips\/\">Property managers<\/a> find and vet tenants, handle home maintenance and repair issues, and generally allow you to remain hands-off. Their fee is typically 10% of monthly rental earnings, but it\u2019s money well spent if the idea of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtymogul.com\/knowledge-center\/article\/investing-beginners-5-reasons-consider-passive-income-investing\">passive income<\/a> appeals to you.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think people with their first rental should manage it themselves just so they know how valuable a property manager is,\u201d advises Terrell. \u201cThey\u2019ll only want to do it for about a year, and then they\u2019ll want to hire a property manager \u2014 and it will be the best 10% they\u2019ve ever spent.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>7. Rent-to-own lease options<\/h3>\n<p>While renting-to-own (RTO) isn\u2019t always the best strategy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-why-rent-to-own\/\">as a buyer<\/a>, if you\u2019re the one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-does-rent-to-own-work-for-sellers\/\">with a home to sell<\/a>, entering into a well-structured lease agreement that provides your tenant with an option to buy can serve as a type of real estate investment.<\/p>\n<p>RTO agreements are often utilized by buyers who need extra time to save up a down payment or earn approval for a mortgage loan, but unless a house is in need of repairs that a homeowner can\u2019t afford to make, there\u2019s little incentive for sellers to agree to a delayed purchase \u2014 unless you\u2019re looking at the deal as an investment opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re in good financial shape with the mortgage and you don\u2019t need the equity as a down payment toward your next property, facilitating a rent-to-own deal can help a hopeful buyer while earning you a little extra cash in exchange for your patience.<\/p>\n<h3>8. Find a partner<\/h3>\n<p>Pooling resources with a friend, family member, or colleague who is also interested in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.betterhousebuyers.com\/\">real estate investing<\/a> allows each of you to cast a wider net around potential investment properties. More buying power can help you get into:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Multi-unit residential buildings<\/li>\n<li>Mixed-use properties with both residential and commercial space<\/li>\n<li>Out-of-state properties<\/li>\n<li>Funding someone else\u2019s purchase via private loan<\/li>\n<li>Long-term rental homes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A word of caution: Resist the temptation to let familiarity with your investment partner(s) override due diligence. Be sure the legal framework is in place to protect everyone involved before mingling funds.<\/p>\n<h3>9. Take on multifamily homes<\/h3>\n<p>If visions of apartment complexes or sprawling condo buildings come to mind when you think \u201cmultifamily,\u201d think again. A modest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-what-is-a-duplex\/\">duplex<\/a> counts as a multifamily home, and any property with four units or fewer will offer ample flexibility while remaining manageable for an independent real estate investor.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll have several use options when investing in multifamily homes. You can live in one unit yourself and rent out the others (you\u2019ll get some tax and insurance breaks if you do this); you can allocate certain units for use as long-term rentals and offer others for short-term stays; or you can simply commit to one rental strategy for every unit.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22478\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22478\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"An image of a home in snow to demonstrate various types of real estate investments.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/types-of-real-estate-investments-multifamily.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22478\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Sigmund \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>10. Wholesaling<\/h3>\n<p>Real estate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/ultimate-beginners-guide-real-estate-wholesaling\">wholesaling<\/a> can be a lucrative way to build capital, but this investment type falls late in our list due to the level of expertise you\u2019ll need in order to be successful.<\/p>\n<p>In short, wholesaling is when you find a great deal on a property, lock in the price, then turn around and sell it (before you actually close) to an investor, developer, or other willing party at a slightly higher price.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I can get the property under contract for $200,000, I might be able to sell it to an investor for $210,000,\u201d explains Terrell. \u201cI never actually close on the property, I just get a contract on it and sell the contract and I make $10,000 for the wholesale.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The process sounds easy enough, but you\u2019ll need to know where to look for these great-buy properties and how to put them under contract legally, and you\u2019ll need to have a network of potential buyers to reach out to with your purchase opportunities, who will be willing to snap up the house before you\u2019re on the hook to buy it at closing.<\/p>\n<h3>11. Buying and dividing land<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-to-buy-land\/\">Buying land<\/a> is an exciting prospect if you\u2019re in the market to build a custom home, but it can also be a profitable investment strategy \u2014 if you know what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n<p>Requiring high levels of expertise, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/subdividing-land\">subdividing land<\/a> involves purchasing large tracts of undeveloped land and then dividing it down into separately saleable parcels. These parcels can potentially be put to use for either residential or commercial purposes, but there\u2019s a great deal of legalese involved with zoning and the specifics of how land tracts can be divided.<\/p>\n<p>Regulations vary by state and county, so you\u2019ll need to do your homework before getting involved with land division as a form of real estate investment.<\/p>\n<h2>Real estate is an investment of money <i>and<\/i> time<\/h2>\n<p>Whether your goals are focused on the short-term, long-term, or as a healthy mix of both, there are numerous pathways into real estate investing. Doing ample research and talking to experts \u2014 and working with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-real-estate-agents\/buying\">experienced real estate agent<\/a> \u2014 before you start dipping into savings will go a long way in helping to ensure you\u2019re making the right choices for your lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>Above all? Be patient. To invest in real estate is to play the long game; allowing wealth to build over time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a slow process,\u201d says Terrell.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThink of it as a snowball effect. You buy your first property and you\u2019re going to earn hardly any money for the first few years, but then it slowly starts developing equity and you get a couple more houses. Then rents increase, inflation happens, appreciation happens; and the next thing you know, there\u2019s a significant monthly cash flow happening while I\u2019m sleeping.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Terrell also notes that, monthly earnings aside, investing in real estate dramatically strengthens your net worth. When you have a selection of income-generating properties as assets, your buying power increases exponentially.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe idea that the rich get richer? That\u2019s why.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Header Image Source: (Grant Durr \/ Unsplash)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Real estate is widely regarded as one of the best long-term investments. We\u2019ll take you through 11 types of real estate investment options.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":152,"featured_media":22475,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[192,620,626],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-buyers","category-buy-house","category-real-estate-investing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>11 Types of Real Estate Investments for Aspiring Investors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Real estate is widely regarded as one of the best long-term investments. 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