Two things seem fairly certain in real estate. They are not making more land, they are making more people. In economic terms, this means that over time, demand will always outstrip supply. In some areas this is more true than others and that is where the research comes in. Don’t be lazy. Most people spend more time buying a pair of sneakers than they do shopping for houses. Relative to price, you may want to spend a bit more effort making a good choice. Buy when prices are low. Approach property purchases with a long term view and you will be fine. Expert investors look at shorter time frames and work with smaller margins of error.