PHILADELPHIA - There are several ways for investors to make money renting houses.  These include tax deductions, wholesaling, and long-term rentals. Lending money to real estate investors is also an option, but it requires industry knowledge. Read on to learn more about these options.


Long-term rentals

Long-term rentals are agreements between landlords and tenants for more than a year.  They specify a monthly rental rate, lease dates, and other terms. Long-term rentals are more stable and provide investors with a guaranteed monthly income. In addition, long-term rentals typically offer lower nightly rates. Both long-term and short-term rental models have their benefits and drawbacks. Consider your investment objectives and then decide which strategy is best for you.

A long-term rental strategy can help investors obtain financing for future home purchases or refinance their current property. Before approving a loan application, lenders generally look at an investor's overall debt-to-income ratio and other mortgages associated with other investment properties. While long-term rentals vary from lender to lender, most lenders recognize up to seventy percent of the monthly rent as debt.

A short-term rental strategy involves allowing investors to rent out a portion of their property rather than the entire property. Investors can list their properties and find tenants using an online listing service. This way, they don't incur major expenses. In addition, short-term rentals do not require extensive maintenance or repairs.

Wholesaling

Wholesaling is a business model that makes investors money by buying distressed properties for a fraction of their original price.  In this model, the investor makes money by purchasing houses below market value and transferring the ownership to the buyer. The buyer pays an assignment fee when the deal closes. This model is a great way for investors with low credit scores to start a real estate business.

Wholesaling is a great way to make money renting houses, but there are several steps you need to take before achieving your financial goals. First, you need to know the market. Then, you need to find deals in the right areas. Wholesaling is not an easy business model, and it takes some money to start. If you are able to identify good deals, you can make lots of money.

The main advantage of wholesaling is the speed with which it can yield a profit. Unlike renting, it requires little capital to start. Investors can make a substantial profit quickly. In addition, it can be an excellent way to earn extra cash while waiting for rental properties to rent. However, rental investment properties are generally more time-consuming. If you don't have the patience for such a lengthy investment process, wholesaling may be right.

Tax deductions

While investing in rental properties can be challenging, there are also numerous tax benefits and deductions for investors.  Unfortunately, many property owners fail to take advantage of these benefits. For example, you can deduct mortgage interest, insurance, and ordinary maintenance and repairs. However, there are also many other expenses that can be deducted as part of your rental property tax deductions. In addition, you can deduct startup costs for your rental properties, such as insurance and renovations.

For example, say you purchase an income property for $400000. You pay 20% of the price as a down payment and generate a net income of $10,000 yearly from rentals. However, you also have a mortgage payment of $20,000 each year and $14,544 in other expenses. You can deduct this $14,544 as a tax deduction, and you can carry over the rest of the expenses as a tax deduction in the following years. The remaining $10,000 in passive income is not taxable and does not require you to pay any taxes.

Another tax deduction that you can claim for investing in rental property is depreciation. There are several ways to calculate depreciation, and it's a good idea to work with a qualified tax professional if you're unsure how to calculate the amount. Condominiums and co-ops have special rules, so ask your tax professional for help.

Lending money to real estate investors

If you want to make money renting houses but don't want to buy properties, you can still earn a lot by lending money to real estate investors.  Private lenders can find prospective clients on peer-to-peer lending platforms or create their own websites. However, private lenders have to do their own research and calculate their returns. Usually, private lenders earn between 6 to 15 percent of the money they lend.