Investing your hard-earned money is the best way of utilising your money instead of just keeping it idle in the savings bank account or spending it on unnecessary things. Moreover, the avenues to invest one’s money have increased exponentially in the last few years. Some of the best investment tools in India are real estate and mutual funds.
Before you decide which investment option to choose between mutual funds and real estate, you must know the basic concept of both investment tools. The following content will help you make an informed decision as you will have an idea about the objectives and other factors of both investment options and check whether they match your requirements or not.
What Is a Mutual Fund?
Mutual funds pool money from a large number of investors, and the fund manager then allocates the collected money into multiple securities like bonds, stocks, or commodities in the market. The gains generated from this collective investment is distributed proportionately amongst the investors after deducting certain expenses.
There are many types of mutual funds available in the Indian market. These types can depend on the portfolio’s objective, fund structure, management style, and underlying assets (equity or debt).
For instance, if an investor chooses to invest in equity mutual funds, the fund manager will invest the majority of the corpus in equity-related instruments such as stocks of top-performing companies.
In contrast, if an investor wants to invest in debt funds, then the fund manager will take the pooled money and invest a large portion in debt instruments. This includes corporate bonds, government securities and money market instruments.
What Is Real Estate Investment?
Investment in real estate involves investment in properties which can be residential or commercial. You can also use the property for your personal needs while you are investing in it. Real estate includes a plot of land and improvements made on it, like structures, buildings and utilities. It can include residential space, commercial space, an entire building or a single flat.
When comparing real estate investment vs mutual funds, the former allows you to use the property for your personal needs while investing in it.
What Are Some Ways to Invest in Real Estate in India?
If you want to know which investment, property or mutual fund is a better choice, you need to know various ways to invest in real estate, and these include:
- Property and Land- This is the most common way for Indians to invest in real estate. People buy a plot of land or an apartment and then put it on rent or use it themselves. Then, after a few years, when the land/flat price increases, they sell it at a much higher price.
Sometimes people invest in commercial properties and rent them for commercial purposes. This way, they can earn revenue until they want to sell it.
- REIT- REIT refers to Real Estate Investment Trust. The trusts pool money from various investors and then utilise the funds to purchase commercial real estate spaces. As a result, the investors get returns at maturity, and these are derived from rent.
Risks of Investing in Real Estate
Both mutual funds and real estate investments belong in the growth asset category. This means they both carry risks when you invest your money in them. However, there are some unique risks for real estate investments.
Firstly, an economic slowdown can cause losses to such investments. You cannot diversify your portfolio while investing in real estate because a large sum of money is invested in one property. Here are some of the other risks involved in investing in real estate:
- Financial risks: Usually, people take loans from banks and NBFCs when they wish to invest their money in commercial or residential property. At times, they fail to pay back their debts on time, which puts a strain on their finances and also affects their credit score.
- Management risks: People often buy a property and put it on rent or use it themselves. However, if they fail to maintain the property till the time they sell it, they may not be able to earn returns from the property as expected.
- Liquidity risks: While selling real estate, sellers may take time to find the right buyer who will give them a fair price for selling the property. In some cases, investors fail to sell the property for a higher price than they had spent to purchase it. This can happen for many reasons, from economic slowdown to a fall in the prices of properties.
- Legislative risks: Often, the property is in a disputed area, and the local bodies have put up restrictions. An investor will have a very tough time selling the property. Regulations regarding real estate, including tenant laws, registration fees, restrictions on the use of property, etc., can also change unfavourably.
Risks of Investing in Mutual Funds
- Market risk: As we all know, mutual funds are subjected to market-related risks. These market-related risks can cause losses for the investor instead of making profits. Some components that affect a market’s conditions are recession, socio-political issues, natural disasters, etc. However, if the investor manages to diversify his/her portfolio, he can mitigate these risks.
- Liquid risk: Liquidity refers to the scenario when people cannot redeem their fund units without incurring a loss. Sometimes, investors even fail to find a buyer for their fund units. Furthermore, if you invest your money in ELSS, your money will be locked-in for three years.
- Credit risk: Credit risk happens when the issuer of a security cannot pay the outstanding debts, leading to lower returns than expected. Debt funds, especially ones that invest in debt securities with low credit ratings, carry credit risks.
- Interest rate risk: Interest rate risk is the probability of a decrease in the value of security from fluctuations in interest rates. Therefore, if there is an increase in interest rate, the price of securities will go down.
- Concentration risk: When one focuses investments in a particular sector or market cap. This way, one can get high returns, but they also carry huge risks. However, you can lessen concentration risk by diversifying your portfolio.
Real Estate vs Mutual Funds- A Brief Comparison
| Key Parameters | Real Estate | Mutual Funds | |
| Affordability | Real estate is capital intensive, costing tens of lakhs. In some cases, investors may not be able to afford to invest in their choice of land/property. However, in the recent past REITs have provided an investment option with minimum investment in the range of Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 15,000 | Generally, investing in mutual funds requires less capital than investing in real estate. Moreover, one can start investing in mutual funds via SIPs as low as Rs. 100. | |
| Liquidity | Real estate has less liquidity as the investor has to hold on to the property till the prices have risen enough to make a profit and there’s a willing buyer to pay a fair price. | Open-ended mutual funds have high liquidity. Investors can redeem fund units whenever they are in need of money. | |
| Returns | Historically it has been observed that the returns from real estate are less than those of mutual funds. Usually, the returns range from 7% p.a. to 11% p.a. | Mutual funds typically earn you a return of 14% p.a. to 19% p.a, depending on the type of fund. This means they can yield higher returns than real estate.Tax benefits can avail tax deductions on home loans, the interest and principal component of EMI payments under Section 24(b) and Section 80C, respectively. | Under section 80C of the Income Tax Act, individuals will be eligible for income tax deductions up to Rs. 1,50,000 when investing in ELSS. |
| Ease of Investing | While investing in real estate, an investor has to prepare and sign many important property ownership documents. Many other expenses are involved, like registration charges, stamp duty, etc. Investing in real estate can be a hassle and lengthy process. | Investing in mutual funds is a relatively hassle-free process. Investors do not have to submit too many documents. You can invest in mutual funds online as well. |
Final Word
If you wish to invest your surplus money in some form of investment tool in the market, you should evaluate all your options. Consider the information given above if you are confused between real estate vs mutual funds. Then, assess your risk tolerance and financial needs before investing your money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do investors prefer to invest their money in real estate?
Investors may choose to invest in real estate for the following reasons:
> Firstly, individuals can take an affordable loan to fund their investments. In some cases, the financial institution will fund up to 75% of the cost of the property.
> If investors take a loan to invest in real estate, they are eligible for tax benefits under various Sections of the IT Act.
> Investors can rent out the asset, and they will be able to create a regular income for themselves.
> Real Estate has been a stable and an old asset class to invest in. Most investors are comfortable investing in real estate as compared to other investment options.
What is the major advantage of investing in mutual funds?
One of the most significant advantages of investing in mutual funds is the benefits of compounding one receives from their returns. This helps the investors to beat inflation, and this feature is not present in real estate investments.
What is compounding in mutual funds?
The power of compounding in mutual funds refers to the increase in the mutual fund’s value, and this is because the investor will earn interest on the principal amount. This will be in addition to the accumulated interest.
How is India’s real sector regulated?
The Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Act was launched in 2016 to promote transparency in the real estate sector in India. As per this Act, the RERA committee regulates the creation, promotion and sale of real estate projects in the country. Every developer and real estate agent now needs to be registered and provide transparency about projects.
What sort of returns can you get from REIT?
REITs in India are required to pay around 90% of the rental income generated by their portfolio to investors as dividends or interest income. Currently, REITs deliver around 11-12% returns (including rental returns) to investors every year. This amount includes both dividend income and capital appreciation.
I'm an avid financial enthusiast with extensive expertise in investment strategies, particularly in the Indian market. Over the years, I've delved deep into various investment tools, including real estate and mutual funds. My hands-on experience, coupled with an in-depth understanding of market dynamics, allows me to provide valuable insights into the complexities of these investment options.
Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article:
1. Mutual Funds:
- Definition: Mutual funds pool money from numerous investors, and a fund manager allocates it across securities like bonds, stocks, or commodities.
- Types: Categories depend on the fund's objective, structure, management style, and underlying assets (equity or debt).
- Examples: Equity funds invest in stocks, while debt funds focus on debt instruments like corporate bonds and government securities.
2. Real Estate Investment:
- Definition: Investing in properties, including residential or commercial spaces, where the property can be used personally while being invested.
- Ways to Invest:
- Property and Land: Common method; purchase land or property, use or rent it, and sell it later.
- REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust): Pooled investment in commercial real estate, providing returns from rent.
3. Risks of Investing:
Real Estate:
- Financial Risks: Dependence on loans; failure to repay affects finances and credit score.
- Management Risks: Lack of property maintenance can impact returns.
- Liquidity Risks: Difficulty in finding a buyer, prolonged selling periods.
- Legislative Risks: Property disputes, changing regulations affecting the property's marketability.
Mutual Funds:
- Market Risks: Subjected to market-related fluctuations.
- Liquid Risks: Inability to redeem fund units without a loss.
- Credit Risks: Default by the issuer of a security can lead to lower-than-expected returns.
- Interest Rate Risks: Fluctuations in interest rates affect the value of securities.
- Concentration Risks: Focusing investments in a particular sector or market cap carries high risks.
4. Real Estate vs. Mutual Funds - A Brief Comparison:
| Key Parameters | Real Estate | Mutual Funds |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | Capital intensive; high costs | Generally requires less capital, SIPs starting from Rs. 100 |
| Liquidity | Low liquidity; property held until profitable | High liquidity; open-ended mutual funds can be redeemed easily |
| Returns | Historically lower (7% to 11% p.a.) | Typically higher (14% to 19% p.a.), depending on the type of fund |
| Tax Benefits | Tax deductions on home loans, interest, and EMI payments under Sections 24(b) and 80C | Income tax deductions up to Rs. 1,50,000 for ELSS under Section 80C |
| Ease of Investing | Involves significant documentation, registration charges, and stamp duty | Relatively hassle-free process, online investment options available |
In conclusion, understanding the nuances of both real estate and mutual funds is crucial for making informed investment decisions. Assessing factors like affordability, liquidity, returns, tax benefits, and ease of investing will guide individuals in choosing the option that aligns with their financial goals and risk tolerance.
