NEW YORK – May 18, 2016 – When it comes to real estate investing, many Americans think of their favorite house-flipping reality show – demolition and redecorating, with hopes of a juicy payday. But a less glamorous form of real estate investing is coming into favor: becoming a landlord.
One of the biggest reasons more investors are opting to become landlords right now is because they like the income potential, National Association of Realtors chief economist Lawrence Yun says.
"Rents have been rising, hovering near six- or seven-year-high levels, and are seeing close to 3.5 percent growth from 12 months ago," Yun says. That means not just getting a steady flow of cash from a tenant but also the prospect of an even higher income stream with each passing year.
There's no instant gratification in the form of knocking down walls or cashing six-figure sales checks. But a reliable and rising stream of income looks pretty darn good to many Americans right now, considering what savings accounts and Treasury bonds pay.
