(there is a free ebook: 101 Tips For Selling Your House,for you to download, from a link at the bottom of this page).

But what is the recommended way to add real estate investment in your portfolio?

There are several option but let us simplify and tackle only the two that can be accomplished on their own or in combination with other types of investment by almost any individual who is willing to go into real estate investment.

Buy, Renovate and Sell

One of the most popular all time real estate investment options is Buy, Renovate and Sell (BRS) of homes.

The BRS strategy is currently the most preferred option for most real estate investors. Before jumping in to the BRS bandwagon, there are a few things you have to consider.

The most important consideration is where to find the property that is reasonably priced for BRS.

You can secure the secure the services of a real estate agent to provide you with a complete listing by location or contact banks and foreclosure companies for properties that might be on the market.

When looking for BRS properties, remember that the same rules apply as if you are looking for your own home with location taking the foremost importance over and above all other considerations!

Downtown area properties are the easiest to resell, but they are also quite more expensive than suburban properties. Look for houses on well-lit and popular streets in good neighborhoods.

Remember, do not go overboard in the renovation process otherwise your asking price for the property may not match the average going rate for the neighborhood. Make sure your renovations do not bring the price too high because it will definitely take longer to resell.

Rental Properties

Another profitable addition to add to your investment portfolio is the rental property option.

Rental properties offer two different variables to your investment portfolio ?income and capital gain. The rental property can provide you a monthly income over and above your monthly expenditure (mortgage, utilities and taxes) and at the same time allow you to earn a capital gain on the property, because of appreciation in value just like your personal home.

The most important consideration in rental properties is the type of tenants or market you have. No matter how great looking, well maintained and well located a rental property is, it can still be a nightmare if you have unscrupulous and undisciplined leaseholders. This makes interviews, references and an air tight lease agreement mandatory.

Finally, you have to decide the kind of rental property you are going to run. Do you want to rent to commercial establishments, young professionals, married couples, or students?

To make your real estate rental portfolio profitable, it is necessary to maintain a 90% occupancy rate.

Whichever option you pursue, it is best to seek out the advice of your financial planner and a trusted real estate agent in order to determine the best course of action.