Real estate is not my job; it's my life.  I'm not a shopper, nor do I spend a lot of time "hanging out" with my friends.  So what's left?  I'm always looking at property for buyers, and I'm sure my husband wished I were a shopper and would go to the mall once in a while.  Nope, not me.  I come home saying "Honey, I saw this house I want to buy!" 

I look for innovative financing, and consider the tax advantages/disadvantages of flipping, renting, remodeling, etc.  Two issues to keep in mind if you are considering investing:

1)  Location, location, location.  You've heard it before. But what about that very inexpensive property that you saw?  Most investors purchase property with the intentions of selling the property within a few years.  If you invest in a poor location, chances are it will still be a poor location (maybe even worse) when you choose to sell.  What are your chances of seeing signifant appreciation in this scenario? 

2)  Investing in improvements that don't result in increased revenue.  You might consider updating a kitchen to help sell a property.  But how much should you spend?  If you are updating your primary home and are going to reap the benefits from the remodel, then your pleasure from using the new kitchen has some worth.  But if you are looking to simply update to sell, there are guidelines.  Generally, you will get a greater return on kitchens and bathrooms.  Statistics show that landscaping does not give a big return on the investment, but you can do a lot of landscaping with few dollars, especially in our wonderful climate where you can get a big effect using inexpensive tropical plants in the summer, and pansies or pointesettas in the winter. 

Real estate is seasonal; moreso here due to our resort location.  Use our seasons to your benefit and make the most of your home!  A deep cleaning, a coat of paint, and some cosmetic work will help you turn you house into a home, and we all know that buying a home is an emotional experience!