In spite of what you may have read in a book, or what your buddy may have posted in Facebook, not everyone enjoys success in rental real estate. 

And unless you are well prepared and, in some cases, exercise some patience, you will have a difficult time seeing results.

As a property management company, we’ve sadly seen some investors not make it.

A majority of the failed investments we see come from people who become discouraged easily and who are not well prepared.

Or, in many cases, don’t have proper expectations.

We’ve watched investors give up after less than a year due to vacancies lasting longer than expected, or from unexpected expenses coming up shortly after they purchased the home.

Although vacancies and expenses are a part of owning an investment, they can cause people to become worried and have high levels of anxiety when they are not ready to begin their career in investing.

Real estate can be an amazing investment for many, but it can also be the biggest headache for others.

So, how do you avoid repeating the mistakes that so many other investors have made?

From personal experience with investors and from doing some of our own research, we have come up with five main reasons why rental real estate investors don’t make it.

1. Lack of Understanding of Real Estate Investment: Real estate investing is a complex field that requires a deep understanding of market dynamics, property management, and finance. Many rental real estate investors fail because they don't fully understand these aspects of the business.

2. Poor Property Selection: Selecting the right property is critical to rental real estate investing success. Investors who fail to conduct adequate research on the location, market trends, and property condition may end up with a property that does not generate enough income or requires significant repairs and maintenance costs.

3. Overleveraging: Overleveraging or taking on too much debt is another reason why rental real estate investors fail. Investing in properties with high debt-to-equity ratios or borrowing too much can result in negative cash flow, making it difficult to cover expenses and achieve profitability.

4. Ineffective Property Management: Managing a rental property requires a lot of time, effort, and expertise. Rental real estate investors who fail to properly manage their properties may struggle to retain tenants, keep up with maintenance and repairs, and meet legal and regulatory requirements.

5. Failure to Adapt to Changing Market Conditions: Real estate markets are constantly evolving, and rental real estate investors who fail to adapt to changing market conditions may find it difficult to generate returns. For example, changes in rental demand, interest rates, or local regulations can impact the rental property's cash flow and profitability. Investors who fail to anticipate and adjust to these changes may be at risk of financial loss. 

How Do You Prevent Failure?

In order to avoid failure when you become an investor, it’s important to understand the mistakes others have made.

Start by educating yourself. Join webinars and workshops. Get involved in investor groups. Listen to the advice of others who have had success in the industry.

Education is going to be key to seeing success. It is the starting point that prevents you from making mistakes throughout your investment process such as choosing a property that won’t fit your goals.

Understanding that you won’t get rich quick and that your return on investments will grow over time will also help you from becoming discouraged early on in your new business.

Getting into rental real estate isn’t always going to be easy but creating a solid foundation of people you can rely on and setting up organized processes will help you find success.

Remember to also set boundaries and be prepared to have difficult conversations with people involved in your investment.

As amazing as real estate can be for your future and for your investing goals, it will require a lot of work, so make sure you are prepared and continue to have a student mentality when it comes to learning about the industry.