What is the best place to BUY real estate right now? Please explain why?
358268
It's difficult to answer your question without knowing where you live.  If you don't live near your properties, it's going to be a challenge keeping up on repairs and tenants.  Look for properties where you live now, or within a reasonable driving distance.  Good luck!
457781
No.  Condos are now more expensive than they were before the crash 6 years back.  That's really telling on where the market is.  Buy low and sell high, right now is high.  Buy only if you really need a place to live and outside the metro area is always a better buy and less prone to big price swings.
364240
Owning a house is the best from an investment standpoint. Condos are pretty good too although the market is different. They don't increase in value as much, you have to pay an extra monthly fee but you don't have to worry about taking care of the outside. Renting is money out the window but you may want to consider it first so that you can really take your time and look over the housing market in the area you will be going.
1159230
Hi Urban!\nNow that the housing market is finally looking up, it's the perfect time to seek out a new place to live. This summer you need to shake off that "lucky I even have my folks to live with" mentality, polish up your shoes, and explore your living quarters options! There are fun, flexible, fantastic places out there just waiting for someone like you!\nNow, get out there and pound the pavement. Beat on some doors until you latch onto that incredible tree house or fort you always wanted!\n(I heard  your area is a great place to find a cardboard box near a dumpster behind the pizza joint?)\n-viqueur
1179539
You should just come here and buy stuff.  You money goes further right now.
665436
real estate is going up....buy now and in the long run you'll get your money back and then some....besides why pay rent and pay off someone else's mortage when you can be putting that money towards your own mortage
1156053
Like any real estate investment, the answer is found in the 3 most important aspects of buying real estate:  location, location, location.  Is this dockominium in a high demand area?  Price is related to supply and demand.  Are there many other similar opportunities in the same area?  Just as important as whether it will increase in value is the consideration of whether it can produce any income to offset the costs of holding the investment.  Based on your answers you should be able to determine whether this is a good investment for you.
456449
The 3 most important things in buying real estate are: Location, location and location.  It is the mantra of real estate investing.  Real Estate appreciates much better in an area where there will be growth in housing and business.  Older areas that are going decline may look cheap, but could get cheaper as time goes by.
454005
This market has seen an influx in investor properties over the last few years.  The increased demand for housing has allowed that investor market to flourish, allowing them to "flip" their properties for a tidy profit.  The demand has been so crazy that nearly every house placed on the market would received multiple offers, usually resulting in a sale price over asking.\n\nUnfortunately for them, recent trends where increasing interest rates, greedy homeowners trying to cash in have pushed the prices sky high.  Buyers have been more reluctant to plunk down $600,000 for a 1700 Square Foot house inside the Beltway, and some houses have started to sit for longer than was the norm.\n\nThis has caused the media pundits to claim that the bubble is bursting, where the actual truth is that the market is becoming more even, where Buyers now have more choice and can ask for normal items in a contract offer, such as a Home Inspection.\n\nWhat has been going on for the last 4-5 years is not normal, but people don't always remember the normal times, they remember the recent times.  What has changed is that any old run down house will sit on the market, as it should.\n\nThis change in the market is better for all.
235367
You are asking a question that requires predicting the future. Anything you hear is merely opinion. \n\nToronto is a good market. It differs from other real estate hot spots in that Ontario is flat and open. The urban sprawl can expand almost limitlessly. In Vancouer, for example, there is much less land avaialble for new building.\n\nInterest rates are rising through the world. Further tightening could easily send real estate prices lower. Nothing is certain though. Do your research. \n\nCheck mls.ca and find out what properties are selling for. What were they selling for 6 months ago? Bidding wars were common in Toronto last year, as a buyer you are much better off if you can avoid that situation.
45635
First pointer: Avoid the scam listed above.\nIts listed here also: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006012204009&r=w\n\nIf you are looking to start investing in the real estate market, be very cautious.  Many hot locations are expected to see a cool off in the next two years.
1079261
I've been telling my clients that if you're planning on selling you house within the next 5 years, now is probably a good time.  Not because of a big crash, per se, but just because the investment doesn't look to be better than other alternatives right now.  I think housing prices, as a whole, will simply rise with the rate of inflation for the next several years.  Of couse real estate is especially regional, there is no such thing as a national real estate market.  So your place could go way up or down.  \n\nBut the point is that if you want to leave with no debt, I don't see a compelling reason to re-fi and hold.  \n\nIf you are planning on moving back soon, however, it may make sense to hold.  Because the transaction cost of selling and then coming right back and buying again are prohibitive.  If you have no intention of moving back, then go ahead and sell and invest in a diversified portfolio that may include real estate, stocks, bonds, etc.  Of course I recommend seeing a professional you can trust to help with these decisions.\n\nFor more personal finance info please go to my podcast, www.promoneytalk.com.  It's the #1 rated personal finance podcast in the world.\n\nHope this helps,\n\nJason
26733
California is among the most overheated markets in real estate so buying now MAY get you into a financial mess by overpaying. Renting is always a waste of money. If you can get LAND at a reasonable price then building a home will avoid the profit you would pay a homeowner for an existing home. That's just my opinion.\n\nImran
559877
The Indian market is booming right now and the Real Estate is doing the BEST. So I would put my money on some property in India. \nGood Luck!
240311
Any real estate investment in Florida is good. Some are better than others, but you can't go wrong. Florida will continue to grow even after all other real estate markets slow or dip because of the retiring people(q tips as they are called)......KECK
485661
Well, it depends- if you are buying on top of a real estate bubble, where you have to really stretch your budget to buy a place, you might be better off to get an apartment and wait until you can better afford to buy.  In a normal market, where you are not having to stretch your budget, you are better off to buy.  First reason is that the interest you pay is tax deductible, rent is not.  Also, you then own an asset on which you can make leveraged gains (meaning that you make a gain against your equity, and also the money that the bank loaned you to buy the place).  It also gives you some security from the standpoint that you know that as long as you pay your mortgage and your taxes, you can never be evicted from your home.
555315
"None of the above."\n\nThe best real estate to invest is in your own country, particularly if you live in the US. \n\nThe cost of ANY legal action between countries is way too high and 'predictability' is a function of your resources.\n\nIf you're looking for "return on investment", stay close to home. If you're looking for and investment that also doubles as a vacation spot, then focus on where you would want to spend your time. Either way, you'll do fine.\n\nGood investments exist everywhere, you just need the resources to identify them!\n\nGood luck!\n\nTrevor