What is the average return on real estate in the last 30 years? (2024)

What is the average return on real estate in the last 30 years?

The S&P 500 stock index has had an average annualized return around 10% over very long periods (higher if you include dividends), while average annual real estate returns are often more in the 4-8% range. Thus, stocks have outperformed real estate over the past several decades.

According to the S&P 500 Index, the average annual return on investment for residential real estate in the United States is 10.6 percent, so anything above that can be considered better than average. Commercial real estate averages a slightly lower ROI of 9.5 percent, while REITs average a slightly higher 11.3 percent.

A “good” ROI is highly subjective because it largely depends on how risk-tolerant a particular investor is. But as a rule of thumb, most real estate investors aim for ROIs above 10%.

Stock Market Average Yearly Return for the Last 30 Years

The average yearly return of the S&P 500 is 10.47% over the last 30 years, as of the end of April 2024. This assumes dividends are reinvested. Adjusted for inflation, the 30-year average stock market return (including dividends) is 7.74%.

Average Market Return for the Last 30 Years

Looking at the S&P 500 for the years 1993 to mid-2023, the average stock market return for the last 30 years is 9.90% (7.22% when adjusted for inflation).

As mentioned above, stocks generally perform better than real estate, with the S&P 500 providing an 8% return over the last 30 years compared with a 5.4% return in the housing market.

As a result, keeping a realistic rate of return in mind can help you aim for a defined target. Many consider a conservative rate of return in retirement 10% or less because of historical returns.

Commercial Real Estate

One reason commercial properties are considered one of the best types of real estate investments is the potential for higher cash flow.

In general, a good ROI on rental properties is between 5-10% which compares to the average investment return from stocks. However, there are plenty of factors that affect ROI. A higher ROI often also comes with higher risks, so it's important to compare the reward with the risks.

While what constitutes a 'good' rate can vary depending on an individual's investment strategy, location, and market conditions, generally, a return between 6% and 8% is considered decent, while a return of 10% or more is viewed as excellent.

What is the lowest 20 year return on the stock market?

The worst 20 year return was a gain of less than 2% ending in 1949. This makes sense when you consider that period included the Great Depression and World War II. One of the neat things about the distribution of returns over 20 years is almost 90% of the time annual returns were 7% or higher.

The S&P 500 average return over the past decade has come in at around 12.39%, beating the long-term historic average of 10.7% since the benchmark index was introduced 65 years ago.

Imagine you wish to amass $3000 monthly from your investments, amounting to $36,000 annually. If you park your funds in a savings account offering a 2% annual interest rate, you'd need to inject roughly $1.8 million into the account.

Both have their merits and drawbacks. Gold offers higher liquidity and lower entry costs, making it accessible to everyone. On the other hand, property provides the potential for both capital appreciation and rental income but comes with higher initial costs and ongoing maintenance.

The average rate of appreciation for a house over 30 years also varies by region and time period. For example, according to Black Knight's report, the national appreciation rate was 3.8% per year in 2019, slightly less than the 25-year average of 3.9%.

While there have been periods of rising and falling home values, the end result is this: In the past 20 years, the average home price in the U.S. has grown from about $140,000 to about $340,000, as of April 2023.

While quite a few personal finance pundits have suggested that a stock investor can expect a 12% annual return, when you incorporate the impact of volatility and inflation, 7% is a more accurate historical estimate for an aggressive investor (someone primarily invested in stocks), and 5% would be more appropriate for ...

Is a 10% annual return realistic?

Usually the implication is that they can expect, over a long time, a 10% return. Fortunately some ask, with some doubt, "Is a 10% return really reasonable?" It is not. While the average growth or return in the market (e.g., the S&P 500) is about 10%*, investors over time do not see that.

So how much can you realistically expect to earn on your retirement investments? “I would tell them 4% to 6%,” Orman said. The two different returns Orman cites serve different purposes, she said. The first example, with a 12% average rate of return, is to illustrate the power of compounding.

Generally, a good ROI for rental property is considered to be around 8 to 12% or higher. However, many investors aim for even higher returns. It's important to remember that ROI isn't the only factor to consider while evaluating the profitability of a rental property investment.