Why Property Management Companies in Sacramento See Single Family Homes As the Most Profitable Investment
Should I invest in a multifamily property or a single family property? It is a decision that all property investors debate. The reason for the debate is that both prove to be profitable, but investors choose between the two types of properties depending on their holding strategy, exit strategy, and affordability. Property management companies in Sacramento are seeing investors get huge returns on investment on single family homes. Many factors play a role in these returns including appreciation, affordability, rent rates, management, and the stigma that surrounds the term “renters.”
Affordability and Appreciation
Home values have slowly been on the rise since 2008 and investors who bought single family homes back between 2008 and 2015 are seeing big appreciation gains. If you did not get into the investor housing game back then, it is not too late. Housing prices are still affordable due to relatively low mortgage rates and single family homes are cheaper to purchase than a multifamily complex. Even more important than those variables are rising rent rates. Record high rent rates are allowing property management companies in Sacramento to get top dollar for their clients who own single family homes. Property owners are cash flowing better than ever in 2019 thanks to the supply and demand in the rental market, driving up rent rates.
Easier Lending Terms
Single family homes have easier lending terms than multifamily complexes. You only have to put down between 10 and 15 percent for a down payment. On multifamily housing, buyers are required to put down between 25 and 30 percent. Interest rates are also lower for single family properties, but keep in mind that lenders change interest rates based on the home being owner-occupied versus renter-occupied. Mortgage rates are hiked up for renter-occupied single family housing. Property management companies in Sacramento report seeing mortgage rates increase between 0.25 and 0.50 percent for renter-occupied dwellings.
Easier to Manage
Plain and simple, a smaller property is easier to manage than a large property. For starters, less maintenance goes into a single family home than a multifamily property. Maintenance costs are lower, the amount of time that you spend on maintenance is less, and a fewer number of tenants means not as many things should go wrong due to tenant error. Property management companies in Sacramento also see that less yard maintenance is a bonus for owners of single family homes. Owners of multifamily complexes need to hire a landscaping company to care for the lawn, plants, flowers, trees, and sprinkler system. On the contrary, the renters who occupy a single family home are generally required to maintain landscaping. Management companies enforce the lease agreement rules that state they must care for the landscape. Showings of the property during vacancy are less stressful and less frequent. The more units you have, the higher the risk for vacancy. Sacramento property management companies know that single family homes generally attract renters who plan to stay in the home for a couple of years. They are also more likely to have children, so school schedules and job stability keep them from moving often.
Buy and Hold
Single family homes will always be in demand. When you purchase a single family home for the purpose of an investment, you have a bigger buyers market to pick from when you are ready to sell. Selling a single family home can attract buyers who plan to occupy it as well as buyers who are ready to rent it out with the help of property management companies. Sacramento property investors have switched their previous business models from buy and flip, to buy and hold. A few reasons why the buy and hold strategy is working for property owners right now is that rent rates are sky high, the demand for rental properties is high, and the newer generation does not value the “settling down” mindset as much as people did in past years. Millenials are on the go and enjoy the flexibility of not being tied down by home ownership.
High Income Clientele
Renters of single family homes have changed as the economy has changed. Property owners are seeing more stable and reliable tenants in their single family homes than with multifamily housing. RPM Select, the top rated Sacramento property management company recently reviewed results released by the U.S. Census which states that the number of high income renter-occupied households was increasing faster than owner-occupied households. They defined high income renters as those making $150,000 annually or more. The stigma that once surrounded the term “renter” is obsolete.
Why You Can Trust Select, the Top Property Management Company in Sacramento
If you have a single family home for rent and need a management company, you can put your trust in Select. Single family homes make up 70 percent of our nationwide portfolio. We have more than 30 years of experience in the property management industry and have proven to our clients that we know this business better than our competitors. If you want the best, call us today.
