Investors are always looking for new ways to grow their wealth. If you are interested in boosting your passive income, perhaps you have heard of or even considered investing in Airbnb rentals.

Owning a short-term real estate property that you can rent out to travelers through the Airbnb platform can be lucrative. But before you jump into this particular investment vehicle, you may want to compare it with another popular real estate investment strategy: multifamily investing.

An Airbnb investment is a property that is purchased for the purpose of renting it to short-term tenants through the Airbnb platform for a profit. Airbnb has over four million hosts all over the world. It goes without saying the platform has become extremely popular. For investors, this could be another source of passive income through monthly rent. [1]

Airbnb helps short-term rental homeowners connect to travelers. They can list their properties on Airbnb and then rent them out on a short-term basis. The platform will market the property and handle the payments in exchange for a service fee. [1]

Owning and managing vacation rentals may be more lucrative than renting to a long-term tenant, but it also comes with unique challenges, benefits, and risks—which we will discuss here today. For some investors, renting out a multifamily investment property may be the better alternative.

Which is a Better Model: Airbnb or Multifamily Investing?​

When choosing between Airbnb rentals and multifamily real estate investing, you have to weigh the different pros and cons.

It’s difficult to determine which is a better model, as it depends on various factors such as individual financial goals, risk tolerance, market conditions, and investment strategy.

Airbnb is a platform for short-term rental properties, allowing property owners to rent out their homes or rooms to travelers. It can be a lucrative investment for those who own a property in a desirable location, but it also comes with certain risks such as fluctuating demand and regulatory challenges. Multifamily investing, on the other hand, involves purchasing a multi-unit property and renting out the individual units. This can provide a more stable source of passive income and the opportunity for long-term appreciation, but also requires a significant upfront investment and ongoing management responsibilities.

Ultimately, both Airbnb and multifamily investing have their risks and benefits, and the best model for an individual will depend on their specific investment goals and circumstances. It is recommended to consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Rising Demand for Housing

There are plenty of reasons why investors should consider investing in Airbnb rentals. For starters, it has the potential for high returns. With the growing popularity of Airbnb, investing in a property to rent out on the platform has the potential to generate high returns.

Airbnb rentals also allow owners to rent out their properties on a short-term basis, making it a highly flexible investment. Owners can rent out their properties whenever they want and for as long as they want.

Investors can target high-traffic tourist destinations or areas with strong rental demand, taking advantage of locations that are popular among tourists. This can be a great way for investors to diversify their portfolio and reduce their overall risk in the real estate market.

Airbnb rentals even offer tax benefits to owners, as they may be able to deduct expenses such as mortgage interest, repairs, and other property-related costs from their taxable income.

As a whole, this investment strategy is a good source of passive income for investors. Although you have to put in a lot of work when it comes to managing the property and making sure it can attract tourists, Airbnb investments are not as involved as a traditional nine to five job. [1]

That said, this investment strategy comes with a few risks. The biggest risk of investing in an Airbnb rental is the uncertainty of occupancy rates. The success of your investment depends on the ability to rent out your property consistently. If you have low occupancy rates, it may take longer to recoup your investment and generate a profit.

Additionally, you have to keep the property in good condition to continuously attract renters and maintain a high occupancy rate. This translates to higher maintenance costs. Investors have to deal with increasing competition due to the popularity of the platform. You have to make sure your property stands out.

Another risk to consider is the fact that Airbnb is facing regulatory challenges in many cities. The rules and regulations around short-term rentals are constantly changing. If regulations become more restrictive, it may be more difficult to operate your Airbnb property, which could negatively impact your investment.

These are some of the common risks involved in investing in Airbnb, and it’s important to carefully consider them before making any investment decisions.

Being an Airbnb host is no walk in the park. Managing it can be time-consuming. But this applies to any real estate investment that involves becoming a landlord. Even a traditional rental property can be time-consuming to manage because you have to deal with tenants. However, with an Airbnb, you have to clean it and manage repairs each time you have a new tenant. [1]

Overall, an Airbnb rental that is booked consistently may be more profitable than renting the same real estate property to a long-term tenant. So in this way, it is better than traditional renting. However, you must consider the fact that this comparison only applies to a single family property that has a single tenant. Multifamily real estate properties are more lucrative and generate a stronger cash flow simply because there are multiple units that can be occupied by numerous long-term tenants.

Benefits and Risks of Multifamily Investing Over Short Term Rentals

Airbnb rentals have certain advantages over single tenant properties. However, multifamily real estate investing is known for its strong and consistent cash flow. Multifamily properties tend to generate more cash flow than single-family homes, since the rent from multiple units can be combined to create a significant stream of income.

Unlike Airbnb rental that has an uncertain occupancy rate, well-located multifamily properties have no such problem. They have low vacancy rates because tenants are less likely to move if they are staying in a high quality apartment building. Even if one or two units become vacant, investors still enjoy a consistent cash flow through monthly rental income thanks to the remaining occupied units.

Multifamily properties are large and generally more expensive, which means they are harder to purchase for a lone investor. However, they are a lot easier to finance. Securing a loan is easier because banks understand that these properties can generate a strong cash flow. [2]

Apartment complexes have better financing options compared to single-family homes because lenders are more willing to provide financing for larger properties.

Investors should go for multifamily investing if they want a stable investment. Multifamily investing even provides tax benefits.

No investment is perfect, and even multifamily real estate investing has its cons. For example, it has higher maintenance costs. Multifamily properties tend to require more maintenance and upkeep than single-family homes, which can be costly.

Investing in multifamily real estate also means you have to become a landlord and manage tenants. It’s a larger investment property, which means it’s a bigger responsibility.

Since a lot of investors do not enjoy this aspect of multifamily investing, they hire property management companies to take care of the day-to-day operations of the apartment complex. The property management company is typically paid a percentage of the monthly income. They are responsible for finding and screening tenants, collecting rent, handling repairs, and maintaining the property. [2]

Why Accredited Investors Choose a Hands-Off Managed Approach from BAM Capital

While Airbnb rental investing and multifamily real estate investing have their advantages and disadvantages, real estate investors may be pleased to know that there’s an even better alternative. Multifamily syndication gives investors all the benefits of investing in a multifamily property but without the hassle of becoming a landlord or the higher upfront costs.

A real estate syndication deal is a passive investment wherein multiple investors pool their resources to purchase a single property. This can be done with any type of real estate property, but multifamily syndication because of all the benefits listed above. [3]

A syndicator puts the deal together by locating the investment property, coordinating the funding, and finding accredited investors who will participate in the syndication. The syndicator acts as the general partner (GP) while the investors are limited partners (LP). The real estate investors provide most of the capital needed to purchase the property in exchange for a share of the cash flow and the equity upon resale, depending on the deal structure. [3]

Most syndication deals are not available to the public. They are exclusive to accredited investors who meet certain requirements in terms of their annual income or net worth. These investments are regulated so that only experienced investors and people with certain certifications can participate. Accredited investors have the knowledge and experience to make informed investment decisions.

Multifamily syndication eliminates the large barrier to entry that prevents most investors from participating in multifamily real estate investing. Large apartment complexes can easily cost millions. But with syndication, the costs are lower because multiple investors are buying a single property. [3]

The syndicator also has the responsibility of handling property management, which means this is a truly passive investment.

If you are an accredited investor who is interested in multifamily syndication, work with BAM Capital.

BAM Capital can help you enjoy all the benefits of owning a multifamily real estate property without the headaches associated with managing it. This is the perfect investment vehicle for accredited investors looking to diversify their portfolio and generate passive income.

BAM Capital is the most reliable syndicator to work with. This Indianapolis-based syndicator has a strong Midwest focus and prioritizes Class A, A-, and B++ multifamily properties with proven upside potential and in-place cash flow. [4]

Their mission is to help accredited investors grow their wealth using their award-winning multifamily investment strategy that creates forced appreciation. BAM Capital offers syndication deals for high quality multifamily real estate properties, with an investment approach that mitigates investor risk.

BAM Capital can handle every step of the syndication deal from negotiating the purchasing and financing to managing the property. This vertically-integrated company will handle everything from start to finish on your behalf. [4]

No investment is without risk. Make sure to consult your investment advisor or speak to a BAM Capital investment team member before making any financial decisions. Accredited investors can schedule a call with BAM Capital and invest today.

Sources:

[1]: https://www.lodgify.com/blog/investing-airbnb-properties/
[2]:https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/041216/3-reasons-invest-multifamily-real-estate.asp
[3]: https://www.qccapitalgroup.com/post/ultimate-guide-to-multifamily-real-estate-syndication
[4]: https://capital.thebamcompanies.com/