At first glance, a 10% return on investment (ROI) in the stock market may seem as good as a 10% ROI in real estate. However, when you dig into the numbers and consider the additional benefits of real estate investing—such as tax advantages, leverage, compounding growth, and the control and tangibility of owning a physical asset—it quickly becomes clear that real estate offers a far superior pathway to building wealth.
Bob Waun, co-founder of DIRT Realty, is a staunch advocate for real estate investing. “A 10% return in real estate is not the same as a 10% return in stocks,” Waun says. “Real estate gives you tax benefits, leverage, and compounding growth that the stock market just can’t match. Plus, you have control over your investment, not Wall Street.”
Let’s break down why a 10% ROI in real estate is far more valuable than a 10% ROI in the stock market.
Leverage: Amplify Your Returns
One of the biggest advantages of real estate investing is the ability to use leverage. When you buy a property, you typically only need to put down a portion of the purchase price (usually 20-25%) and finance the rest with a mortgage. This allows you to control a much larger asset with a smaller initial investment, amplifying your returns.
For example, if you purchase a $300,000 property with a 20% down payment, you’ve only invested $60,000 of your own money. If that property appreciates by 10% in one year, the property value increases by $30,000—a 50% return on your $60,000 down payment. Compare that to a 10% return in the stock market, where a $60,000 investment would yield just $6,000 in gains.
“Leverage is a game changer in real estate,” says Waun. “You’re using other people’s money—the bank’s money—to grow your wealth, and that’s something the stock market can’t offer.”
Tax Advantages: Keep More of Your Gains
When it comes to taxes, real estate offers numerous advantages that can significantly boost your returns. The IRS allows real estate investors to deduct expenses such as property taxes, mortgage interest, maintenance costs, and even depreciation—a powerful tool that lets you write off the gradual decline in a property’s value (on paper) even while the property’s market value appreciates.
Additionally, real estate investors benefit from capital gains tax deferrals through 1031 exchanges, which allow you to defer paying taxes on the sale of a property as long as you reinvest the proceeds into another similar investment property.
When compared to the stock market, where capital gains are taxed upon sale and there are fewer deductions available, real estate gives you the tools to keep more of your money and compound it faster.
“Real estate is a tax-efficient investment,” Waun explains. “Between depreciation, deductible expenses, and capital gains tax deferral, you’re able to keep more of what you earn, and that compounds over time.”
Compounding Growth: Build Wealth Over Time
While the stock market offers compounding growth through dividends and price appreciation, real estate has a unique ability to compound returns in multiple ways. In addition to property appreciation, you can earn passive income through rental properties, which generate cash flow that can be reinvested or used to pay down the mortgage, further increasing your equity in the property.
As the property appreciates and you pay down the mortgage, your equity grows, giving you the ability to refinance or sellthe property and reinvest the proceeds into new investments. This cycle of compounding wealth is much harder to achieve in the stock market, where your returns are largely dependent on market fluctuations and capital gains taxes.
“Real estate allows you to build wealth over time in multiple ways—through appreciation, rental income, and mortgage paydown,” says Waun. “You’re getting returns from multiple angles, which compounds faster than a simple stock market gain.”
Control: You’re in Charge of Your Investment
One of the most frustrating aspects of investing in the stock market is the lack of control. Your returns are subject to the whims of the broader market, corporate decisions, and global economic factors. You can’t influence the performance of a stock, nor can you improve its value.
Real estate, on the other hand, gives you direct control over your investment. You can make improvements to a property to increase its value, raise rent to boost your cash flow, or take a hands-on approach to property management to reduce costs.
In real estate, you have the power to create value, which puts you in control of your financial future. This is a key reason why real estate tends to attract investors who prefer to be proactive in growing their wealth.
“In real estate, you’re not at the mercy of Wall Street,” Waun emphasizes. “You have the power to influence the outcome of your investment. That’s a huge advantage that’s hard to come by in other asset classes.”
Tangibility: A Real, Physical Asset
Another significant benefit of real estate investing is the tangibility of the asset. Real estate is a physical, concrete investment that you can see, touch, and improve. This creates a level of security that’s missing in the stock market, where you’re often investing in abstract, paper assets that can lose value overnight due to market volatility or economic downturns.
Moreover, real estate has intrinsic value—people will always need places to live, work, and shop. The demand for housing in particular continues to rise, making residential real estate one of the safest and most essential investments.
“Real estate is real,” says Waun. “It’s not a piece of paper or a number on a screen. You own something tangible that has intrinsic value, and that provides peace of mind.”
The Bottom Line: Why a 10% ROI in Real Estate Wins
While both the stock market and real estate can deliver solid returns, the additional benefits that come with real estate—leverage, tax advantages, compounding growth, control, and tangibility—mean that a 10% ROI in real estate can far outperform a 10% ROI in the stock market.
By taking advantage of leverage, maximizing tax deductions, and growing wealth through rental income and property appreciation, real estate investors can achieve greater financial freedom and long-term wealth growth.
As Bob Waun concludes, “Real estate is the ultimate wealth-building tool. The combination of leverage, control, and tax benefits make a 10% return in real estate worth far more than a 10% return in the stock market. It’s how you turn a good investment into a great one.”
Comments