You’ve probably heard the saying: “A 10% return is a 10% return.” But is it? When it comes to real estate vs. the stock market, that same 10% ROI in real estate outshines stocks in ways most people don’t realize. Let’s break it down: real estate brings tax breaks, leverage, compounding growth, control, and something stocks will never have—tangibility.
Bob Waun, co-founder of DIRT Realty, puts it simply: “A 10% return in real estate isn’t just good—it’s great. The stock market can’t give you leverage or tax breaks like property can. Plus, you’re in control, not Wall Street.”
Let’s see why a 10% ROI in real estate is a clear winner.
Leverage: The Secret Sauce to Bigger Returns
In real estate, leverage is king. You don’t need to throw down the full cost of a property upfront. With just a 20% down payment, you can control 100% of the asset. If you buy a $300,000 property and it appreciates 10%, that’s $30,000 in value—on your $60K investment. That’s a 50% return on your actual cash! In the stock market? You’d only see $6,000 on the same $60K.
Real estate hack: Use the bank’s money to make more money.
Taxes: Real Estate’s Legal Cheat Code
One word: deductions. Real estate investors enjoy tax write-offs on mortgage interest, property taxes, and even depreciation (even though your property’s value is probably going up). Then there’s the 1031 exchange—where you can sell a property, roll over your profits into a new one, and defer paying capital gains taxes. Stock market? Nope. You’re paying those taxes with every sale.
“Real estate is the best tax shelter available to everyday investors,” says Waun. “You’re basically making money on money Uncle Sam doesn’t touch.”
Compounding: Real Estate Growth on Steroids
Here’s the kicker: in real estate, your money grows in multiple ways. Property values rise over time, but you’re also earning rental income. Plus, every mortgage payment chips away at your loan, building more equity. And when that equity piles up? You can refinance or sell and roll it into new investments.
The stock market might give you capital gains, but real estate gives you appreciation, cash flow, and loan paydown—all at once.
Control: You’re the Boss
In stocks, your returns are at the mercy of the market—and CEOs you’ve never met. Real estate? You call the shots. Raise rents, improve the property, or reduce expenses. You’re in control of your investment, not some faceless executive or an algorithm on Wall Street.
“In real estate, you control your destiny,” Waun explains. “You can actually improve your investment rather than just hoping for the best.”
Tangibility: Real Estate is Real (Stocks Aren’t)
Let’s face it: owning shares in a company is like holding a slip of paper. Real estate is a physical, tangible asset—something people will always need. You can see it, touch it, and improve it. In a shaky market, there’s comfort in owning something you can stand on.
“Real estate is real,” says Waun. “It’s not a number on a screen—it’s a place people live, work, and build lives. That’s something you can count on.”
The Bottom Line: Real Estate Wins (By a Mile)
Sure, 10% is 10%—until you consider all the extras that come with real estate. With leverage, tax perks, multiple streams of growth, and control, real estate doesn’t just match the stock market’s 10%—it beats it.
Waun sums it up: “Real estate is the clear winner. It’s a smart, sustainable way to build long-term wealth. Plus, you get to keep more of what you earn.”
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