Unpopular opinion: Real Estate is the best retirement savings vehicle, hands down.

There is no question, there are many great investment vehicles to plan for retirement, many of which come standard from our jobs, such as 401Ks and Pensions. Other investment vehicles we may opt to participate in include IRAs, Roth IRAs, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Today I want to talk about why real estate trumps all of that. This is with the assumption that you are buying right, and if you’re not sure what that means, check out my social media pages @investwithtaha where you will find more information on this. 

Consistent Cash Flow vs. Stock Market Volatility: Assuming you buy the right rental property, these properties can generate monthly income through rent payments which can add another layer of financial security. Though divident stocks can generate income, the amount is often negligible compared to rental properties and subject to fluctuation that is out of your control. Real Estate is less likely to have unexpected value and income swings, though anything is possible. At the end of the day, I think most will agree that real estate provides a more reliable and predictable income stream. 

Appreciation and value growth over time: Historically, real estate tends to appreciate in value over the long term, with home prices generally rising alongside inflation and economic growth. On top of this natural appreciation, you can add value to the property through renovations, which boosts both rental income and property value. While stocks have a high potential for growth, they are much more volatile and can lose value during downturns (e.g., the 2008 financial crisis). Bonds are generally safer, but they offer lower returns and do not provide capital appreciation. Real estate offers both capital appreciation and rental income, giving you multiple ways to grow your wealth while maintaining the safety of a physical asset.

Tax advantages: Real estate investors benefit from significant tax advantages, including depreciation (which allows you to write off the value of your property over time), mortgage interest deductions, and deductions for property-related expenses (repairs, maintenance, property management fees, etc.). When selling a property, you can use strategies like a 1031 exchange to defer capital gains taxes. Capital gains on stocks are taxed when sold, and there are no deductions for holding stocks or bonds. Retirement accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s do allow for tax-deferred or tax-free growth, but they limit the amount you can contribute annually. The numerous tax breaks in real estate can significantly reduce your tax liability, increasing your after-tax returns compared to stocks or bonds.
There are many other reasons real estate trumps all other investment vehicles for retirement, including being the best hedge against inflation, being able to get into real estate with massive leverage, control over your investment, and long-term wealth/legacy. There are so many factors to consider when planning for retirement, for me and my lifestyle, there’s no better place to invest than in real estate. Thanks for reading!