Keeping It REAL - by Bettsy Tyler

If the thought of investing your money into brick and mortar—or perhaps some stylishly-painted siding—excites you, join the club. Investing in real estate has long been one of Americans' favorite ways to grow their wealth. In fact, over 70% of single-family rental properties are currently owned by individual investors rather than corporations, according to Census data. 1 Moreover, a decade's worth of Bankrate surveys has found that Americans often prefer real estate for long-term wealth building over other investments. According to Bankrate's latest survey, for example, Americans have historically embraced real estate, in part, because of the strong return on investment it can offer—especially to investors willing to stick with a property over time. 2 It’s also a popular way to hedge against inflation since both rental income and property values tend to rise in tandem with overall prices. 3 Now, as higher interest rates continue to push priced-out homebuyers to the