How to Invest in Apartments

If you have money to put in the stock market or into mutual funds, you can shift some of it to buying pieces of apartment buildings. A real estate investment trust, called a REIT, is similar to a mutual fund. Instead of buying shares of a stock portfolio, when you buy shares of a REIT, you're buying a little piece of its portfolio of investment real estate properties. While there are general purpose REITs, you can also expose yourself to the apartment market by buying shares in a REIT that only holds multi-family assets. You won't have the control of owning your own building, but you'll be able to participate in the downs and, hopefully, ups of the apartment market.

When you buy into an apartment building as a tenant-in-common, you're buying a small piece of the building together with other people. Pooling your money lets you afford a building that you wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. If you're considering a tenant-in-common investment in an apartment building, read the agreements carefully so you understand the fees you will have to pay, the responsibilities you will have to contribute money to if something goes wrong, and the terms under which you can sell your interest. While tenant-in-common investments can have high fees and restrictions, a good one can be a good way to get started in apartment investing.

Going the traditional route of coming up with a down payment, going to a bank for a mortgage, and competing to buy an apartment building is challenging. You might find that brokers with "good" deals don't call you back, or that the bank's paperwork and requirements for down payment are out of your reach. Instead, find some small buildings that you'd like to own as a starter, and contact the owner directly. The owner may be willing to work out a deal where he carries the financing and lets you buy it from him, especially if he's owned it for a long while and has paid it off. If you do this, it's wise to get counsel from an outside expert to help make sure that you are getting a fair deal, but it can be a good way to get started as an apartment owner.

If you're serious about getting started in apartments, buy a small multi-unit property as your home. You can use low-down-payment financing, such as the FHA program, to buy a two- to four-unit property. While you live in one unit, you can rent the others out and have them pay your mortgage. This gives you experience owing rental properties, and when you're ready to move out, you can rent out your unit, too.