Is Real Estate Still a Good Investment in 2026
SDIRA Wealth leaders Justin French and Matt Love explain how researched markets, builder-direct opportunities, and ongoing guidance can give rental investors a head start
For an investor reading today’s housing headlines, waiting can feel like the safest decision. Buying a rental property means committing capital, taking on ownership costs, and trusting that the income will justify the investment. Those decisions deserve more than an optimistic forecast.
Real estate can still be a good investment in 2026 when the purchase price, realistic rent, financing, and ongoing expenses support the investor’s goals. Evaluating that fit requires a closer look at the property and its local rental market.
The national picture explains the caution. In an October 14 report, Redfin estimated that home sellers outnumbered buyers by roughly 63% in September. That imbalance can create negotiating opportunities for qualified buyers, while also underscoring the risks of depending on a quick resale.
Against that backdrop, SDIRA Wealth CEO Justin French says the company is having its best year in its history. He attributes the interest to an approach built over 25 years: research markets, develop new construction rentals for investors, and connect the purchase with financing, professional relationships, and support throughout ownership.
“More people are being introduced to us for the first time. They want to understand where to invest, what the numbers look like, and who will be there to guide them after they buy as they continue building their portfolio. We have spent 25 years building that experience,” French says.
A company’s growth does not establish what an individual property will earn. For buyers, the useful question is how that experience improves the opportunity they are being asked to evaluate.
Market research begins before the homes are built
SDIRA Wealth operates as a full-service build-to-rent developer and builder. Its work begins with market selection and development planning, before a home is presented to an investor. Location, construction costs, renter needs, and attainable rents inform what the company builds.
The research considers employment growth and employer diversity, population trends, household incomes, and housing affordability. Local rental demand, competing construction, property taxes, insurance, and access to qualified management help determine whether a market can support the ownership experience investors need.
That is why a state’s growth story is only a starting point. SDIRA Wealth identifies Lubbock, Texas, as one of its focus markets, but each opportunity still requires a neighborhood and property-level assessment. Comparable rents and leasing conditions matter more to an individual owner than a statewide ranking.
“We look at the relationship between what a home costs, what it can realistically rent for, and what the investor will spend to own it. Those numbers need to support the client’s plan,” says Matt Love, SDIRA Wealth’s Director of Client Strategy
The company reports that it has built in 15 states since 2001. That history informs its selection process; current local conditions guide each new development..
New construction designed for rental ownership
For a rental home, design decisions have financial consequences. A practical layout and durable finishes can influence tenant appeal and future upkeep. A purchase price also needs to leave room for the financing and operating expenses that continue long after closing.
“We build with today’s market in mind. We look at what renters need, what households can afford, and what ownership costs look like now. A property needs to make sense within that picture,” French explains.
New construction gives buyers an opportunity to begin ownership with new building systems and applicable warranties. It can reduce some of the maintenance uncertainty associated with older homes, while still requiring inspections, reserves, and a budget for vacancy and future repairs.
Join hundreds of investors from across the country discovering SDIRA Wealth through our weekly property tours. Explore the new construction rental homes we build, meet our team, and learn about exclusive off-market investment opportunities. Watch the video above for a firsthand look at the Freedom Builders community and the possibilities for your next investment.
The purchasing power behind an individual property
An investor buying one rental home is usually negotiating one transaction. SDIRA Wealth develops and builds in volume, creating relationships and purchasing opportunities across a larger business. Eligible clients can access benefits generated through that platform when purchasing an individual property.
Depending on the home and financing, those benefits may include builder-direct pricing, rate buydowns, closing-cost assistance, and negotiated property management benefits. Investors also gain access to exclusive off-market properties developed for rental ownership. The complete offer gives buyers more to compare than the asking price alone.
French says incentives and a model that does not charge clients a buyer commission have been part of the company’s approach since its beginning.
“We’ve always offered substantial incentives and have never charged our clients a buyer commission. Those benefits are getting more attention now as investors look more closely at the cost of getting started and the advantages that can give them a head start,” French says.
Some real estate investment companies and other turnkey providers earn revenue through membership fees, team-access fees, or buyer commissions. Those additional charges increase an investor’s cost of getting started.
“Our volume and scale as a developer and builder allow us to earn revenue by building and selling properties, so we don’t need to charge our clients those extra fees,” French says. “Depending on what they would pay elsewhere, that can mean thousands of dollars saved upfront. Combined with our builder incentives and bulk pricing, it gives investors a meaningful head start while keeping more capital available for their investment and reserves.”
The team also connects investors with a network of more than 200 preferred lenders, according to the company. Financing options and incentives depend on the property, loan program, and borrower qualifications.
A builder advantage for long-term investors
SDIRA Wealth builds more than 2,000 properties a year for investors. As the developer and builder, that scale allows the company to offer bulk pricing, builder incentives, and rate buydown opportunities on its properties. Clients also pay no SDIRA Wealth membership fees, team-access fees, or buyer commissions, giving long-term rental investors a head start.
“These advantages have always been part of what we offer our clients,” says Matt Love, Director of Client Strategy at SDIRA Wealth. “Now, more investors are looking for ways to improve their purchase terms and lower their borrowing costs, and they’re discovering the benefits of working directly with us.
For buy-and-hold investors, the price you pay and the financing you secure can make a meaningful difference over years of ownership.”
The team and lending partners help investors understand available incentives and financing options, including permanent rate buydowns for qualifying buyers. They review those benefits alongside taxes, insurance, management, and other ownership expenses so clients can evaluate the complete investment.
Free membership with support beyond closing
SDIRA Wealth’s free Freedom Builders membership gives investors access to exclusive off-market property opportunities, investor workshops, property tours, and personalized guidance. Members can explore the markets where the company builds, review available incentives, and develop a plan around their goals before deciding to purchase.
As the developer and builder, SDIRA Wealth earns revenue by building and selling properties. Clients pay no SDIRA Wealth membership fees, team-access fees, or buyer commissions. Education and ongoing portfolio guidance are included.
“Membership gives investors a chance to get to know our team, ask questions, and understand the opportunities before making a decision,” says Matt Love, “That relationship continues after closing as we help clients evaluate their next steps and work toward their long-term goals.”
Buyers remain responsible for standard closing, financing, and ownership expenses. The team helps explain which costs available incentives cover so investors can evaluate the full purchase.
Tax planning that fits the larger financial picture
A property can serve different purposes for different investors. A business owner evaluating cost segregation may have different priorities from someone purchasing through a self-directed IRA or completing a 1031 exchange. The ownership structure and timing need to fit the wider financial plan.
SDIRA Wealth helps coordinate the real estate side with the professionals advising the investor. Its programs include education and support related to cost segregation, self-directed IRAs, Short Term Rental Tax Stratagies and 1031 exchanges.
According to French, clients have collectively saved more than $250 million in taxes through real estate strategies implemented with their CPAs and wealth advisors. That cumulative company-reported figure describes past client outcomes; individual benefits depend on the investor’s circumstances.
“Our 25 year history and long term relationships with our CPAs and wealth advisors help connect the property to the client’s larger plan. Those professionals work directly with the investor, and we coordinate the real estate side so the decisions work together,” French says.
A deduction is different from a dollar-for-dollar tax saving. Rental loss rules can limit or delay the use of depreciation deductions, and a qualifying 1031 exchange generally defers gain. A tax advisor should evaluate the current benefit and the tax consequences of an eventual sale alongside the property’s operating numbers
A head start from day one
Before buying a first rental, an investor may spend months choosing a market, finding properties, comparing lenders, and interviewing property managers. Each decision raises another question, and assembling those relationships takes time.
With SDIRA Wealth, investors begin with research, private property access, and an established network already available. They can spend their time examining a specific opportunity and its fit with their goals, with experienced contacts available to explain the details.
“You can get a head start with the research, property access, and relationships we already have in place. Our team can walk you through the opportunity and help you understand what fits your goals,” French says.
That head start becomes practical when the pieces can be reviewed together: comparable rents, the purchase price, written lender terms, available incentives, and the management plan. Investors still perform their own due diligence, but they have a more organized place to begin.
Support for the first property and the next one
Once a purchase closes, questions shift to leasing, expenses, and whether another property makes sense. SDIRA Wealth continues to provide education and portfolio guidance while helping investors connect with local property management and other professionals.
“Clients want to know they can call us as questions come up and their goals change. Whether someone is buying a first property or adding a fifth years later, we want to keep providing value throughout that relationship,” French says.
That ongoing relationship also appears in client feedback. In a testimonial published on the company’s website, Paul M. described seven and a half years of ownership with less vacancy and maintenance than he had experienced with older rehabilitated properties. He also expressed interest in another purchase. His account reflects one investor’s experience, rather than typical or guaranteed results.
The company reports more than 11,000 properties delivered and over $2.5 billion in client-owned real estate since 2001. French’s Freedom Five Formula gives investors a framework for acquiring properties over time, with the pace and portfolio size determined by their capital, income goals, and actual results.
“As clients consider another property, we help them revisit their goals, available capital, financing options, and experience with the properties they already own. The next purchase should fit where they are now,” Love says.
Building toward financial freedom with the Freedom Five Formula
The approach connects each purchase to a personal income goal, with a plan to acquire properties at a manageable pace, maintain reserves, and allow time for loan repayment and potential rent growth.
As mortgages are paid off, more rental income may become available to support retirement, family priorities, or greater control over how investors spend their time. Five is a planning framework; the right portfolio size and timeline depend on financing, ownership costs, and actual performance.
SDIRA Wealth helps investors evaluate how their first property and each future purchase fit that larger goal.
“Our free education and ongoing guidance help clients build with confidence as they work toward their Freedom Five goals. More than 75% of our business each year comes from existing clients, and 85% comes through referrals. Those relationships mean a great deal to us. We want to keep earning that trust by providing value long after the first property closes,” says Justin French, CEO of SDIRA Wealth.
Build a plan around your goals
For investors asking whether real estate still makes sense in 2026, a conversation about a specific property can move the decision forward. Reviewing its location, financing, realistic rental budget, and available incentives helps establish whether buying now fits your circumstances.
Join SDIRA Wealth’s Freedom Builders community for free to explore available properties, compare incentives, attend investor workshops, and build a plan around your goals. There are no SDIRA Wealth membership fees, team-access fees, or buyer commissions, and guidance continues after closing as you work toward your next property.
Get a head start with the properties, relationships, and support to move forward.
Become a free member at SDIRAWealth.com/welcome
Ready to get started? Book a call with the team to create your free, customized real estate investment plan, built around your goals, your family, and your future.
