Everyone’s looking to get ahead financially in life, but it’s sometimes difficult to know how to do that. One way to make your money go further is through investing. The problem is that many people don’t know where to begin when it comes to investing. And there are so many different ways to invest the process can seem overwhelming. But if you’re looking for an investment that’s practical and profitable, consider investing in a real estate property.

What Is Real Estate?

Real estate is basically land plus any building or man-made structure that sits on it. This can include everything from single-family homes to apartment buildings to shopping centers. Purchasing the land also gives you rights to any type of resource connected to it. This can include things like water and oil. There are five main categories of real estate:

• Residential. Houses, condos, townhouses, and multifamily residences with fewer than five individual units
• Commercial. Any property exclusively for business purposes, like apartment complexes, shopping centers, and hotels
• Industrial. A property used for manufacturing, such as factories and warehouses
• Raw Land. Undeveloped property, vacant land
• Special Use. Property used by the public, such as government buildings, libraries, and parks

Real Estate Will Always Be Around

One thing that makes real estate a good investment is that real estate, in one form or another, will always be needed. People will always need to purchase a home to live in. Manufacturers will always need warehouses to house their equipment. And governmental entities will always need places from which to conduct business.

And no matter how bad the economy gets, the basic principle of humans needing a roof over their heads will not change. Many people swear by investing in residential properties because they produce rental income year-round. Of course, you’ll want to take into account any unexpected expenses. Another great thing about real estate is that it’s a real asset, meaning it has inherent physical worth. You can see it and touch it.

Investing in Real Estate Allows for Flexibility

Investing in a real estate property also gives you options. Let’s say you’ve fallen in love with the Poconos to the point where you decide to buy a vacation home there. Investing in property in the area gives you the opportunity to have your own spot in a place that you know you’ll visit again and again. It also gives you the opportunity to rent out the home to those on vacation or on business trips. Friends and extended family could also benefit from the purchase of the home.

The same principle applies if you were to purchase a duplex or an apartment building and decide to live in the building. Added benefits are that after purchasing the building, you’ll have a place to stay, and there’s the cash flow generated from monthly rental payments. And if you do grow tired of the property, you can always sell it for a profit. Or maybe you want to flip the property after buying it. You have many options with real estate.

The Appreciation Factor

Appreciation is the increase in an asset’s value over time. Most of us have heard of people buying a home for a certain amount of money only to sell it for even more money a few years later. That’s appreciation, and it’s another great thing about investing in real estate.

Of course, there is always the chance that the property could lose value. This is why you want to make sure that you choose carefully when buying real estate. You have to think long-term, taking things like a neighborhood’s history and its potential into consideration. The good news is that real estate values and rents usually increase over time.

Purchasing real estate is a good idea for many reasons. First and foremost is that every person will need a place to lay their head, and every business will need a place to conduct business from. There is also a good deal of flexibility in real estate, giving the investor many different ways to make money. So if you’re thinking of investing in something where the potential benefit to you and to others is great, consider real estate.