Real Estate Investment Options

Most sophisticated investors realize the need for income producing investment caliber real estate in their overall investment portfolio. Although the average Canadian has the majority of their net worth in their home, this often cannot be easily accessed as a source of income or savings. Investment real estate should produce income, build equity from positively leveraged debt repayment, and grow in value over time. Investment real estate is also treated differently for tax purposes in Canada and has many advantages over other investment options.

There are multitudes of ways you can invest in real estate – directly owning a rental property, being the active or passive partner in a joint venture, investing in a privately offered limited partnership or REIT, or even investing in publicly traded REITs. You need to ask yourself several questions to determine what type of investment is best fit for your available capital, risk tolerance, time input and investment goals. The below summarizes all major options with their respective weightings.