In the history of the United States of America, real estate investing has created more millionaires, with less risk, than any other investment.

Yes, these are difficult and challenging times for the investment real estate market, but it would be a mistake to characterize all real estate as being too risky to consider.

Real estate is “local”.  So, while there may be areas of the country that should be avoided, savvy investors are seeking out real estate investment opportunities that offer the potential for accelerated growth in their portfolios.

Flipping houses still has profit potential. However, the best strategy is the old standby of “buy and hold”.  And for retirement investors who want to use a Self Directed IRA to own real estate…time is on their side.

With a Self Directed IRA (sometimes referred to as a Real Estate IRA with checkbook control), an investor is in complete control every step of the way. With this type of investment structure, the investor can decide how, when and where to invest.

Probably the best reason for jumping into the real estate market right now is that it’s unlikely that prices will go much lower. And, the current surplus of homes will be absorbed in the next few years and prices will start to go back up.  So, even though timing is important, waiting for the absolute bottom is really not a very good idea.

Do your homework, invest smart, and you can mitigate much of the risk that can be associated with real estate investing. Also, using a Real Estate professional who is familiar with the area you’re interested in is also well advised.

So buckle up, jump in and hang on. Your best bet for making money in this market is investing in what know…down on Main Street USA.