The U.S. housing market has weathered all the recessions since 1980, with the exception of the Great Recession of 2008, Jefferies pointed out in a recent note.
The FHFA U.S. house price index rose by an average of 7.4 percent in the year prior to a recession and prices rose an average of 2.7 percent from the start of a recession to the end, the note stated.
“Other than during the GFC (Great Financial Crisis), home prices have kept rising even during recessions, probably because rates fall, the vast majority of people retained jobs and household formation continues,” said Thomas J. Thornton, Jefferies’ head of U.S. equity product management, in the note to clients.
Financial professionals believe housing would fare better than it did in 2008 were there to be another recession.
The subprime mortgage crisis brought about the last recession in 2008, but the housing market has since roared back with better lending standards. Lower long-term interest rates also boosted housing demand.
Real estate and other alternative investments can be part of your retirement investing.
If you’re looking to diversify your portfolio or already have an interest in investments such as real estate, it’s possible to use the same vehicle that you use to invest in stocks and bonds.
IRAs, Roth IRAs, and other accounts can hold a range of investments in addition to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Possible investments in these self-directed accounts can include real estate, notes, private placements, and even cryptocurrency.
Discover more about diversifying your investing with a self-directed IRA.
1I plan to purchase a rental property with my IRA. Does the rental income have to go back into my IRA?
Yes, all income generated by an IRA-owned property must return to your IRA. This ensures that you retain the tax-deferred or tax-free status of the investment.
2Can my IRA purchase real estate that I currently own?
No. This is considered a prohibited transaction (see IRC 4975). You may not purchase a property, or interest in a property, that’s currently owned by a disqualified person, which includes yourself.