If the goal of investing is to retire at the common age of 59 or older with a set amount in savings, a retirement fund may be the best option. On the other hand, if a person is looking to increase their overall wealth to retire early, real estate is the better choice.
The Bottom Line. If you're saving for retirement, a tax-advantaged retirement fund with diversified stocks will offer the highest returns for most investors. However, if you have a lot of up-front capital and a tolerance for risk, real estate can sometimes be a good speculation asset.
401(k) plans are generally better for accumulating retirement funds, thanks to their tax advantages. Stock pickers, on the other hand, enjoy much greater access to their funds, so they are likely to be preferable for meeting interim financial goals including home-buying and paying for college.
Rental real estate can be a good source of retirement income. The relative inefficiency of the real estate market can produce bargains that offer strong returns. If you need to borrow to buy a rental property, do so before you retire. Choosing a good location is more important than finding the cheapest property.
Financially, however, saving for retirement before a home is the right move. Historically, over 20-25 years or more, stock market gains far outpace real estate. (And, as an aside, I don't believe anybody should buy their primary residence as an investment.
“It's critical to save for retirement even if you're saving for a house. If your employer matches your 401(k) contributions, then contribute up to the match,” says Joel Shaps, former vice president at Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management.
Age doesn't matter. Counterintuitive as it may sound, your loan application for a mortgage to be repaid over 30 years looks the same to lenders whether you are 90 years old or 40.
There's no “right” age to buy a home, but it's smart to evaluate where you are in life as you decide whether or not to buy. A home purchase is the most significant investment in many peoples' lives, and your status as a homeowner can help you or hurt you financially.
For example, those who invest in their 20s and 30s will begin earning cash flow sooner than their peers. Over time, as they pay down the debt on those properties, they can either a) maximize cash flow on debt-free properties; or b) refinance those properties with new, long-term debt.
Simply divide the amount of monthly income you need by the cash flow each property generates. For example, if you need $2,000 per month to get by in retirement, then you'd need four properties that generate $500 each. That's an easy calculation to make on paper, and one that ignores a whole lot of real-world wrinkles.
Good alternatives include traditional and Roth IRAs and health savings accounts (HSAs). A non-retirement investment account can offer higher earnings but your risk may be higher.
Traditional IRA
Traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) offer more flexibility and tax benefits than 401(k) accounts, making them one of the most popular 401(k) alternatives. Individuals can contribute up to $7,000 a year and defer tax payments until the money is withdrawn in retirement.
Most financial advisors say it's better to contribute some money to your company's 401(k) — even if it's a seemingly trivial amount each month — than to do nothing. Don't have a 401(k)? An individual retirement account (IRA) offers some of the same advantages, but you can open one without employer sponsorship.
Additionally, investing in real estate within a tax-advantaged account like a 401k allows you to defer taxes on any profits or rental income until retirement.” Whether you're borrowing money against your 401(k) balance or rolling it into an IRA, that tax-deferred growth can be a big help when planning for the future.
Real estate offers much higher earnings potential, but it's hard to beat a Roth's tax-free withdrawals—not to mention the years of tax-free compounding. When in doubt, speak with your financial planner or advisor, who can help you determine the best investment strategy for you and your situation.
The 1% rule states that a rental property's income should be at least 1% of the purchase price. For example, if a rental property is purchased for $200,000, the monthly rental income should be at least $2,000.
No, 50 is not "too old" to buy multifamily rental properties. In fact, there are many advantages to investing in real estate at this age.
Buying a house in your 20s could make sense if you don't see yourself moving in the near future. Young buyers should consider their needs versus what they can afford. A good credit score and consistent income are two of the biggest factors in mortgage approval decisions.
No matter your age, there is never a wrong time to start investing.
Is The Best Age To Buy A House Between 30 And 35? The average first-time homebuyer in the United States is around 33 years old, so most people would probably agree that this is the best time to buy a house. By the time you are in your early 30's, you likely have some stability in terms of income and life situation.
Yes. There is no age limit to a mortgage application. If you have a substantial down payment and a steady income (which can include pension and Social Security payments), you have a good chance of approval regardless of your age.
“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O'Leary has said the ideal age to be debt-free is 45, especially if you want to retire by age 60. Being debt-free — including paying off your mortgage — by your mid-40s puts you on the early path toward success, O'Leary argued.
The road to homeownership is not always easy. Here's another challenge: Once you reach a certain age, it can be harder to secure a mortgage. Especially when you hit 70. That's according to new research from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.