Certain investors prefer investing in tangible real estate, rather than numbers on a computer screen. If you’re trying to diversify your portfolio, real estate could be a viable option.

Real estate investment has unique advantages, including cash flow and the potential for appreciation. It’s important to remember that cash flow is unpredictable and the value of a property can change due to many factors.

An approach that is popular for beginners is the buy and hold strategy that involves buying a property to earn rental income and potential capital appreciation over i was reading this time. This strategy is labor intensive and requires you to carefully investigate and scrutinize possible investment opportunities. It’s also quite illiquid that means that after the deal is closed and your money has been returned you’ll need to find a new opportunity to invest in.

A REIT (real estate investment trust) is a different method to invest in real estate. These companies solicit funds from shareholders to buy and manage properties such as office buildings, apartment complexes and strip malls for both rent income and long-term appreciation. As opposed to individual real estate investments, REITs are publicly traded and offer some diversification to bonds and stocks in your portfolio.

You can also enter real estate investment by becoming your own landlord. This can be done through traditional rental properties or making use of modern business apps and brokerages that permit you to purchase a small portion of the property. This is typically easier than becoming a homeowner and allows you to balance your desire for an asset that is physically located in your portfolio with the level of separation you desire from your investment decisions.