Real Estate As A Good Investment Largely as a result of its finite nature, land has always been a reliable avenue for investment. Real estate enjoys a similar reputation. Wise and intuitive investment in real estate is an easy way to increase income. Even though real estate does go down in value on occasion, over time it is still one of the best places to invest your money. Examine how much a piece of land cost a few decades ago and how much that same property costs today to understand that real estate can be extremely lucrative. Despite the relative safety, you still need to be smart when you make your investments. The first step to enlightened investing understands how the market works. There are two avenues for investing in real estate investing. First, property values generally appreciate over time. Despite the occasional fast rising real estate price bubble followed by its inevitable popping, real property usually increases in value ahead of inflation. This means that the current value of any home is going to be higher in a few years, at which time it can be sold for a profit. It is also profitable to acquire run down properties at lower prices, renovate them within a fixed budget, and sell for a profit. The second avenue where real estate adds to your income is by leasing the property. The cost of rent also goes up along with inflation. If your rate is fixed the mortgage costs stay the same. This brings in even more earnings. For concrete proof, check out those affordable apartments for rent in Michigan. As homes grow more valuable, many people cannot buy houses. This increases the demand for rental homes. Investment ventures in real estate require only a minimal initial outlay. Due to the variety of styles and price ranges available, real estate investing is very flexible. Assess first your investing capacity and then choose properties to acquire based on how that money could best be leveraged. Because housing loans are secured, investors can take advantage of the willingness of banks to loan money on real estate holdings. Nevertheless, putting down as large a down payment as you can afford will lower your monthly payments and overall interest paid, and thus maximize your income when you eventually sell your property. Ideally, pay cash for the property and pocket all rental income and sales proceeds. As you start out in real estate investment, you might have to go into debt in order to take advantage of the opportunities in the market. Borrowing from financial institutions or finding interested investors is one way to raise the funds needed for acquisitions. Applying for a loan to invest in property is considered a sound business strategy, due to the assumption that the anticipated appreciation of the property will offset the loan amount. Though it is an accepted practice, it must however be kept in mind that the

investor is heading into a financially weaker and therefore riskier position by taking on more debt. Staying out of real estate deals when the market is down is a terrible misconception. Nothing could be further from the truth. The best time to invest is when the market is slow or has crashed. Be on the lookout for good deals during a market slump. Take full advantage of an economic downturn to buy at the lowest possible prices with plenty of room for growth. When real estate is hot and prices have skyrocketed, stay out. Remember the saying; make hay while the sun shines. Applied to real estate, buy when the price is right. Sometimes newcomers purchase and hang on to a piece of land in the middle of nowhere. They often hope for the property to become valuable and give them all the money they need for retirement. This is speculation at its worst. Speculation is only good if the home or property you bought logically appears as though it will grow in value. If the town, for example, decides to build a golf course next to your land, the value will go up. Buying spec homes in urban or suburban areas that show a reasonably sustainable growth and have not yet been affected by over-inflation is another example of savvy speculating. Everything has its ups and downs, and real estate speculating is no exception. Buying property to rent and hold for the long term is generally safer than speculating. There is no denying that real estate offers a very good investment opportunity. Properties will always be in demand. As an investor in real estate, you will face fewer risks and will have long-term gains if you do your homework. By making an informed decision using good business sense rather than giving in to emotional purchases, you may find financial security in real estate investment.