Long-Term Investment | Americans Believe Real Estate is the Best

Luxury homes may hold a key. In 2014, the S&P/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index for single-family dwellings rose roughly 4.5 percent. But Frank Symons, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the western region of Sotheby’s International Realty, reports that luxury homes appreciated 8 percent that same year. He cites Sotheby’s Global Luxury Residential Real Estate Report for 2015.

“This is a healthy return on investment at a time when residential real estate is still recovering,” Symons notes. “As recovery continues, the rate of appreciation could gain momentum.”

Turnkey properties can unlock returns. With a turnkey investment, you’re buying a fully vetted, redeveloped property.

“It’s a lot like buying a take-and-bake pizza. All the ingredients are there, and all you have to do is buy,”

Source: Scarlett Tassone, a vice president with PrivatePlus Mortgage in Atlanta.

Caution

Thinking you’ll “get rich quick.“That kind of wrong-headed thinking is fueled by “these self-appointed gurus who have infomercials and make it sound so easy to get rich in real estate,” says Eric Tyson, co-author of “Real Estate Investing for Dummies.” It’s not easy. It’s a good long-term investment, but so is putting your money in a mutual fund, which is a lot easier. “These gurus don’t talk about all that hard work. You have to be smart, you have to be willing to work, and you have to understand your risk tolerance.”

Playing Lone Ranger. A key to success is building the right team of professionals. At the very least, you need good relationships with at least one real estate agent, an appraiser, a home inspector, a closing attorney and a lender, both for your own deals and to assist with financing for prospective buyers.