Deciding to invest in real estate is one of the best decisions you will ever make for yourself. However, it isn't something you can decide to do one day and then rush out and do the next. There is a process that you have to learn and lots of information to digest. If you think you have done that already and you are now prepared to go out and make your first purchase, here are five questions to ask that will help you to prepare.

What type of property am I interested in? Are you interested in a duplex, multi-unit complex, or perhaps just a single family home? Are you interested in commercial real estate? What about raw land? How you answer this question will determine other things that you do later, such as how you decide to actually pay for the property. It is also best to choose one direction to pursue so you don't go on wild goose chases and so your team knows what they need to clue you in on.

What area am I interested in? Are you going to invest in the city where you live? If not, what part of the country are you interested in? The Internet is the best resource for determining what area of the country you would like to put your time and resources into. Ken McElroy, author of ?The ABCs of Real Estate Investing,? calls this Level I research. Later, when you have determined a part of the country and a city in which to look, you will need to decide what neighborhood interests you. You will find that during McElroy's Level II and Level III research.

Do you have a plan to pay for it? The type of investment property you are looking for (as well as your existing equity) will determine how you can make your purchase. If it is a smaller investment such as a house, you may want to pay for it outright. However, even if you don't have the finanacing in place, if it is a investment property that has made money in the past, the bank will probably give you the finacing you need. They know that they will get a ROI regardless of what happens to your investment. If you are looking at a larger piece of land that you can't afford outright, you will probably be able to find other investors to partner with you.

Is my team in place? It's just too hard to be successful at this without a good team. This is simply because there is so much work, and so many different types of expertise needed, that you simply can't do it all. You won't have enough time to become skilled at real estate law and accounting, plus broker your own deals and manage your own properties. You have to delegate. That is why McElroy says you start with an attorney, an accountant, a broker and a property manager. After that, you may also need appraisers, tax consultants, a surveyor, a structural engineer, an architect, an estate planner and more.

What is your repair budget? This is very important. Knowing this will help you determine what areas to look around in because some areas may be full of old buildings or some newer buildings may actually be in serious need of repair. You will have to know what you are getting into and whether you can afford it.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of questions. Once you embark on your investment property adventure, you will find a consitent list that you will need to address. But these will get you started on the path to asking yourself the right kinds of questions. Sometimes asking the right questions is more important than the answers themselves.