Real Estate Investment Option

As financial markets waver and mortgage rates continue to hover at historic lows, investing in real estate makes more sense than ever– primarily because real estate follows its own cycle, independent of stocks and bonds. But for those with little real estate investment experience, entering into this arena can be intimidating as well as costly. Filled with expert insight that only SmartMoney could provide, The SmartMoney Guide to Real Estate Investing has been written to help you gain a firm understanding of the potentials and pitfalls of real estate investing. Whether you’ re looking to buy a home for yourself or as an investment, The SmartMoney Guide to Real Estate Investing clearly walks you through the process from start to finish. This comprehensive guide will show you how to take advantage of the options currently available in this market, guide you through the questions you should consider– from what is the best way to get financing to how you can increase the value of your new investment through renovation– and instruct you how to sell once you’ ve decided to liquidate your investment. Easy-to-read chapters arm you with everything you need to become a self-sufficient real estate investor. Topics discussed include: Researching the marketZeroing in on the right propertyFinancing and managing your investmentThe best way to renovateHow to get your ideal second homeREIT investing Making the most of the financial opportunities available to you is what SmartMoney is all about– whether it’ s stocks, bonds, mutual funds or . . . real estate– and in today’ s financial environment, a properly balanced portfolio must include a real estatecomponent to reduce risk as well as garner higher returns.

Real estate is back, and it’ s back big. Today the hot, new investment opportunity is REITs— real estate investment trusts. Attracting investors in record numbers, REITs have recorded historical growth this decade. From a stock market value of less than $9 billion, the industry has grown to over $100 billion. It is now more diversified than ever, with over 200 publicly traded REITs— double the number that existed in 1992. In REITs: Building Profits with Real Estate Investment Trusts, John Mullaney, who has spent a career evaluating and managing real estate investments, offers a timely and comprehensive introduction to this increasingly popular investment opportunity. Along with a complete review of the different types of REITs and the various property sectors in which they invest, Mullaney provides a detailed look at the major REITs in each segment of the industry, their investment strategies, and their track records. Originally authorized by Congress in 1960, REITs gained new prominence starting in 1991 when Kimco Realty, a private real estate company, decided to go public. Since then, more than 100 private real estate companies have taken the same path. The result is that there are now more investment options in the REIT industry than ever before. To help you navigate your way in the REIT marketplace, REITs: Building Profits with Real Estate Investment Trusts examines all aspects of REITs to give you the necessary tools and know-how to select the REITs that meet your individual investment needs.