We’ve all heard the reports that pensions don’t have enough money to keep us going when we retire and to have any chance of having decent money to live on when we’re older, we now have to work much harder than any of us ever wanted.

Isn’t it scary?

So how can you secure a good retirement fund? Well, have you thought about real estate investment?

Invest in bricks and mortar, you can’t go wrong is what our parents and grandparents have always said. Even though they were just talking about owning your own home, they were right, and it’s time we took that wisdom into account.

We’ve all seen property values ​​skyrocket, but only a few of us have been brave enough to use the housing boom to secure our future. Don’t worry, it’s not too late. Money can be made on real estate investments during a recession as home prices fall and buyers are few, allowing the savvy investor to take advantage of ‘buyer’s market’ conditions.

So how do you go about investing wisely? Well, there is always more than one way to do something and real estate investing is no different.

Some people simply freed up the equity in their home and used it to increase the value of their home by expanding into the attic, converting their garages into additional living space, or just making subtle changes to their home that would make it more sellable. .

Others have been more adventurous. They remortgaged their home, released the principal, and used it to buy another property that they can rent or sell after some renovations. Whether they acquired these properties in the more traditional ways through real estate agents or by going to auctions will go some way to determine how big of a bargain they got.

This (buying property, fixing it up and selling it) is a big deal in the US and many people make a living “trading property” as it is called there; some keep their day jobs and “change ownership” part-time. More and more people in the UK are starting to see the value in this and starting to invest in property this way.

Some people have even chosen to buy property abroad, in remote locations like the Caribbean, Florida, and other places in the US, while others have bought closer to home in France, Spain, and other European countries.

These often start out as vacation homes but quickly become investment properties as people realize how unrealistic and foolish it would be to leave a property empty for most of the year when it could bring in some money as rent. vacation for other tourists.

Real estate investing can take other forms, especially in the US, where a person can purchase tax liens, tax deeds, and early foreclosures at special auctions and use them as another way to finance their retirement or earn a good living.

As you can see, real estate investing has taken on a life of its own in the last 30 or 40 years, and many now turn to it to ensure not only a good retirement fund, but also the future of their family. So can you, as many people have been able to invest in property with very little money or experience.

If you can find a mentor to help you avoid some of the costlier mistakes, all the better, especially if you’re investing in property abroad; but if you can’t, don’t worry.

Real estate investing is not rocket science and can make you a lot of money if you do it right and invest wisely. Make sure you do some good old fashioned homework, learn as much as you can before you spend your hard earned money and you can’t go wrong especially if you have a mentor. Start your real estate investment portfolio today.