When you want to begin your real estate investing journey, there are plenty of things you should first take into account. It can often feel like a hard way to achieve success or become successful as investing in real estate can seem like a hard task at first. However, it doesn't need to be this way.

If you can find all the information you need, investing in real estate can actually be a simple and highly rewarding investment opportunity. You will need to know (at the minimum) the basics of real estate before even thinking about purchasing your first investment property. Without the correct knowledge, you will likely be setting yourself up for failure.

Some people may have been able to achieve success with real estate investing without much knowledge, but to be able to get the most out of your investment strategy, knowledge is essential. Real estate can be highly profitable when you have the correct knowledge to make valuable investments. 

1. Location

Location is everything when you are looking to purchase a successful investment property. So, it is essential that you research and find exactly where you want your property to be located because finding the right location can mean everything when you want a successful investment. This decision is as important as choosing the property itself.

This is where Real Estate Crowdfunding platforms, such as Fundrise, can become extremely handy. With Real Estate Crowdfunding, you can purchase a property a few houses up or even thousands of miles away. In terms of location, finding somewhere that has high rates of tourism, high growth rates, and a good record can increase your property value drastically.

With the right location, people will be more inclined to be interested in your investment property as opposed to one that is not in an ideal location or amongst unattractive properties. 

2. Long-term or short-term?

Before you decide to invest, you need to decide whether you are looking for something long-term or short-term and what your ultimate goal is. Would you prefer to invest in something long term and build wealth slowly over time, or would you prefer to invest in something short-term and receive returns straight away?

If short-term is something you'd prefer, flipping is likely something that would be a better option for you. Flippers will usually flip their investment property within six months and move onto something new. This option does provide higher returns though it can turn risky.

If long-term is your choice, rental properties are preferable and more attractive, especially if you can find luxurious rental properties in an upper-class location that will draw in a comfortable income. Though you may not see huge returns straight, you will gradually accrue an attractive amount of wealth with a lower chance of risk. 

3. Research the market

Researching the market is a highly beneficial strategy, and one that is considered essential. It is important to decipher whether the market is rising or falling, and which locations are succeeding as opposed to ones that aren't doing well. Then decipher whether the interested rates are up or down and which property types are performing great compared to ones that are not.  

Researching and achieving the answers to these things will help to divert you away from making mistakes when you are searching for your investment property.

4. Diversification

When it comes to investing in real estate, it is important to diversify or be prepared to diversify. It is not recommended to put all of your money into one property. When you spread your money over multiple properties, you mellow the risk and also have the potential to increase your profit and gains.

If one of your properties fails, you will have others to level out the playing field. However, if you have one property, you will not be able to entirely reduce the risk as if the property fails it is most likely that is it all finished for you. 

As the market begins to involve, the strategies that investors choose are becoming crucial in their investing journey. If you're looking for a low-cost investing platform that will make it insanely easy to start investing in real estate, Roofstock is a great option to get started.