Real estate is probably one of the safest investments available, particularly when compared to the volatility of the stock market.  There are many books and products available to help you through a real estate investment every step of the way, even with no money down or by using other people’s money. 

Another option is to borrow money from what is called a “hard moneylender,” but that can result in very high interest payments if the loan is not repaid promptly.  There are also some mentoring programs available. 

Be careful of any advice to use your credit cards for down payments.  What if you buy a house and have a difficult time selling it?  You could be paying very high credit card interest payments or risk selling the house at a loss.

Two common ways to buy and sell houses for profit are through fixer-uppers and flipping.  Fixer-uppers entail finding a house that needs cosmetic improvements, fixing it to make it more appealing, and trying to sell it for a profit of at least $10,000.  Flipping is finding a bargain house and immediately selling it to either a buyer or another investor.  This is usually done with foreclosures and auctions, but occasionally a house on a regular real estate listing can be flipped for a profit if the timing is right.

Instead of buying and selling houses, you could also buy a house or apartment to rent out.  This would only be an option if your total costs are less than what you receive in rent payments.  You also have to be sure you will not have to put a lot of money into the house, since you may not make that money back.  However, even if your rental income brings in only a few hundred dollars a month, it may be worth the effort. 

If you can’t face the thought of having tenants call you at all hours for repairs, a rental management company can manage your properties for a percentage of the rent or sometimes a flat monthly fee.

Not only does rental property give you a small income source, but when the property has appreciated in a few years, you can sell it for a profit. 

As you can see, there are several ways to make real estate work for you.

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