Multifamily Investing Passive Income: What Investors Need to Know

American investors have many options to expand their investments and increase their cash flow, with many investment vehicles at their disposal. The abundance of options can sometimes make it challenging to determine the most suitable choice for their next investment venture.

In this article, I will focus on one such option—multifamily investing, a type of real estate investing—and explain the potential passive investment component of multifamily investing that allows you to enjoy the benefits of multifamily investing without some of the operational responsibility. Read on to learn more about the potential for multifamily investing passive income.

What is Multifamily Investing, and How is It Different?

Real estate investing is an investment wherein the investors purchase properties and rent them out to tenants, typically charging them a monthly fee to maintain their residence.

Within the real estate umbrella are a few investment vehicles, each with distinguishing characteristics. The three most common types of real estate investments are single-family, multifamily, and commercial.

• Single-family: These are single-unit properties such as a house or specific condominium unit where one group of occupants reside.
• Multifamily: These are larger properties designed to accommodate multiple living units within a single building or complex. Depending on the size of the operation, they can house up to thousands of tenants, each with their own self-contained living space.
  • Apartments
  • Condominiums
  • Two- to four-unit properties
  • Duplexes
  • Townhouses
• Commercial: Commercial real estate refers to renting out spaces designed specifically for business use instead of tenant use. Such locations include retail spaces, office buildings, hotels, and industrial warehouses.
  
  

Multifamily investing could be an enticing option for investors exploring ways to add the following benefits to their existing portfolio’s:

• Portfolio diversification: Diversifying your portfolio is often seen as a good practice because it ensures different income streams and lowers your risk of exposure to external forces¹. It also helps offset when other investments aren’t performing well.
• Lower risk than other options: Unlike other real estate investment options, multifamily investing is often considered relatively safe. When renting out multiple units, you’re receiving numerous income streams, which means you’re less likely to experience financial setbacks from vacancies or non-payments than renting out a single unit.
• Economies of scale: Managing properties can often be costly. Maintenance fees, operational costs, and labor can add up, especially if you manage multiple properties. When you consolidate those units into one property, like with an apartment building, you can often see savings in areas like insurance, repairs, or supplies.
• Appreciation and equity: Like other real estate types, multifamily properties generate income from rent payments and tend to increase in value over time, meaning you can enjoy the revenue stream from rent payments and ideally sell the property for a profit if you decide to move on. You can also use other tools, such as 1031 exchanges, to increase the proceeds from selling a property.

Is Multifamily Investing Passive Income?

Since real estate investing may require less responsibility from investors than other options, is multifamily investing passive income?

While real estate investing carries less individual burden than other options, it isn’t what many consider truly passive as it still requires a lot of hands-on commitment and responsibility.  When you purchase a property and rent it out to tenants, you assume responsibility and accountability for managing it and ensuring you know applicable laws and regulations.

As you can see, real estate and multifamily investing is very involved, although depending on your investment partner/structure, a more passive investment with less hands-on management might be an option. Investors can pay a property management company to assume the role of property manager for them and take on some or all of these responsibilities, but this will come at a cost.

It’s important to note that the level of passivity within any investment vehicle can vary and is influenced by factors such as investment strategies, individual goals, and the level of control an investor wishes to maintain. You should always consult with your financial advisor before making an investment decision.

Canyon View Capital Brings the Potential Opportunity of Truly Passive Multifamily Income to Investors

Is multifamily investing passive income? While it brings potentially higher levels of passivity than other investment opinions, without hiring a property manager, investors should expect some active involvement and effort.

But what if we told you there’s another option? At Canyon View Capital, our principals have managed a portfolio of over $1 billion² in multifamily real estate and shared our experience with investors. We utilize a “buy-and-hold” strategy instead of “buy-and-flip,” allowing our investors to enjoy multifamily income streams from rent payments without worrying about the hassle of property management, giving them a passive multifamily investment option.