How Many Rentals Do You Need To Be Financially Free? (2024)

How Many Rentals Do You Need To Be Financially Free? (1)

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🏡 Lorence Alacar 🏘 Real Estate Specialist How Many Rentals Do You Need To Be Financially Free? (2)

🏡 Lorence Alacar 🏘 Real Estate Specialist

Real Estate Investor | I partner and help people invest in their first rental property

Published Jul 31, 2023

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Last year my wife and I became digital nomads. We packed up our bags and took the trip of a lifetime slowly traveling throughout four states in the U.S. (California, Washington, Texas, Florida) then, five countries in Europe (Italy, Greece, Egypt, Montenegro, Portugal). We lived in each location for about one to three months at a time exploring the cities, learning the culture, and having peace of mind that our properties would be able to support our lifestyle. Are we billionaires that own companies that employ hundreds of employees? No, far from it...

Throughout my career in Information Technology and Real Estate Investing, I learned that having a high income alone won't get you to financial freedom. You also need the ability to control your expenses through budgeting and of course, investing.

So how many rentals do you need to be financially free?

How Many Rentals Do You Need To Be Financially Free? (3)

Attaining financial freedom was one of the main goals when I got into Real Estate Investing, specifically income through rental properties. The question that drove me crazy in the beginning was how many rentals does one actually need to reach financial freedom? I found out through a lot of trial and error that the answer is not a one-size-fits-all, but varies based on several factors such as location, property type, rental income, expenses, and most importantly lifestyle choices.

Here's the best visual a mentor shared with me when trying to find how many rentals I needed: Treat each rental property like a source of income that will support a category of your lifestyle. For example, my monthly groceries costs $543.26 per month(average). This means one of my properties will need to cashflow this amount if not more. From there, each property acquired will have a purpose. Whether it’s eating out, entertainment, travel, mortgage, utilities, etc. When you look at it this way, my number(family of four) will be totally different from a couple with no children and will be definitely lower if you are single.

One property may not cover your lifestyle but as you acquire more properties and assign each property a purpose to your cost of living budget, you will be able to build a portfolio that will cover your cost of living and eventually become financially free through Real Estate Investing.

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How Many Rentals Do You Need To Be Financially Free? (7)

It's important to note that financial freedom is not only about having high income from rental properties, but also about having income that covers living expenses. This means, the lower one's living expenses, the quicker one can get to financial freedom. This is why it's crucial to have a solid financial plan in place which includes emergency funds, diversified investments, and a plan for maintenance and repairs of not only rental properties but also of what happens in your personal life. Once the required amount of rental properties are attained, it’s important to diversify in other businesses that may help and support your real estate investing journey.

A general rule of thumb is estimated that owning between 10 to 15 doors that generate positive cashflow can provide financial freedom. Don't let the number scare you, remember that building a rental property portfolio takes time and it's a journey, not a destination. Starting small, quality education, and guidance from experienced professionals helped with reaching my goal.

So based on your monthly budget, how many rental properties do you think you need?

Real Estate Investing Tips How Many Rentals Do You Need To Be Financially Free? (8)

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Heidi Soleymani

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Wow! That is a LOT of traveling in one year. Congratulations on being able to do that (both financially and logistically). It's nice to see the family photos in each location. How did you handle schooling your children? Did you home-school? How did that go?

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How Many Rentals Do You Need To Be Financially Free? (2024)

FAQs

How Many Rentals Do You Need To Be Financially Free? ›

Generally speaking, financial freedom can be achieved with two or three rental properties. However, if an individual is looking to generate enough passive income to quit their job and live comfortably without relying on other sources of income such as investments or side jobs, they may need more than 3 properties.

How many doors to be financially free? ›

Once the required amount of rental properties are attained, it's important to diversify in other businesses that may help and support your real estate investing journey. A general rule of thumb is estimated that owning between 10 to 15 doors that generate positive cashflow can provide financial freedom.

How many rental properties to make a profit? ›

You can use the calculation monthly amount needed ÷ cash flow per rental property = the number of rental properties you need. It's just as important to have a good idea of whether these properties will earn positive cash flow. To calculate your cash flow, you can use the formula Cash flow = Income – Expenses.

How many properties are needed to retire? ›

When it comes to retiring solely as a result of rental income, the math is quite simple. You will need just two formulas: The monthly amount needed for retirement ÷ The cash flow per rental property = The number of rental properties you will need. Cash flow = Income – Expenses.

How to get financial freedom with real estate? ›

Rental income: By investing in rental properties, you generate a steady stream of income. As you expand your portfolio, this income can surpass your monthly expenses, leading to true financial independence. Appreciation: Over time, real estate properties generally appreciate.

How many rental properties do you need for financial freedom? ›

Generally speaking, financial freedom can be achieved with two or three rental properties. However, if an individual is looking to generate enough passive income to quit their job and live comfortably without relying on other sources of income such as investments or side jobs, they may need more than 3 properties.

How much money do you need to make to be financially free? ›

It doesn't take an exorbitant salary, either. Americans say they'd need to earn about $94,000 a year on average to feel financially independent. That's about $20,000 more than the median household income of $74,580.

How many rentals to make 100k? ›

The amount of capital needed to generate $100,000 in annual income from rental properties depends on factors like cash flow, financing, and property types. For example, if you have an average cash flow of $1,000 per month per property, you would need approximately 8-10 properties to achieve $100,000 in annual income.

How much monthly profit should you make on a rental property? ›

However, if you'd really like to succeed, you should always aim higher at around 15%. Anything between these percentages will be seen as favorable cash flow properties as long as you have a current tenant and are receiving the expected rental income without having to outlay massive fees and expenses.

What is the 1 rule in real estate? ›

The 1% rule of real estate investing measures the price of an investment property against the gross income it can generate. For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must equal at least 1% of the purchase price.

Can you live off rental income? ›

Living off rental income necessitates meticulous long-term financial planning. In addition to purchasing properties with favorable cash flow, successful real estate investors also take into account variables including prospective property appreciation, tax benefits, and gradually developing equity.

Can I retire off rental income? ›

Indeed, not having to make any more mortgage or rent payments can be the deciding factor in choosing when to retire or whether retirement is even possible. Real estate, however, can support an early retirement thanks to the rental income it can generate.

What is the 70% rule for retirement? ›

The 70% rule for retirement savings says your estimated retirement spending will be 70% of your pre-retirement, post-tax income. Multiplying your post-tax income by 70% can give you an idea of how much you may spend once you retire.

What is the 4 rule for financial freedom? ›

The 4% rule says people should withdraw 4% of their retirement funds in the first year after retiring and take that dollar amount, adjusted for inflation, every year after. The rule seeks to establish a steady and safe income stream that will meet a retiree's current and future financial needs.

How to invest in real estate when you're poor? ›

Here's how you can invest in real estate without money of your own:
  1. Private Money Lenders. ...
  2. Hard Money Lenders. ...
  3. Wholesaling. ...
  4. Equity Partnerships. ...
  5. Home Equity. ...
  6. Option To Buy. ...
  7. Seller Financing. ...
  8. House Hacking.

What is the secret to financial freedom? ›

Make a budget to cover all your financial needs and stick to it. Pay off credit cards in full, carry as little debt as possible, and keep an eye on your credit score. Create automatic savings by setting up an emergency fund and contributing to your employer's retirement plan.

How many people become financially free? ›

45% of young adults say they are completely financially independent from their parents. Among those in their early 30s, that share rises to 67%, compared with 44% of those ages 25 to 29 and 16% of those ages 18 to 24. 44% of young adults say they received financial help from their parents in the past year.

How many units to be financially free? ›

The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the individual's current income, lifestyle choices, and savings goals. Generally speaking, financial freedom can be achieved with two or three rental properties.

How many doors are good for house? ›

The number of doors in a home ought to always be even and in multiples of two. This means a home must always have 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. doors, but not 10 as already mentioned by Farhan above. There shouldn't be more than two doors at the main entry, and they should all open inward.

What is the fastest way to become financially free? ›

How to Achieve Financial Freedom
  1. Learn How to Budget.
  2. Get Debt Out of Your Life—For Good.
  3. Set Financial Goals.
  4. Be Smart About Your Career Choice.
  5. Save Money for Emergencies.
  6. Plan for Big Purchases.
  7. Invest for Your Retirement Future.
  8. Look for Ways to Save Money.
Feb 2, 2024

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