If you are considering ways to invest your money and watch it grow, you must consider real estate. Real estate is one of the best investment opportunities because it can generate extra income now and in the future. As prices inflate, property values usually do too, making it a great way to protect your money from losing value. Check out these three ways you can invest in real estate.

Rent a Second Property

One common method to invest in real estate is by purchasing a secondary home and finding renters. Even if you have to take out a mortgage for the home, it is a great investment because the home typically increases in value as time passes. Plus, the rent paid by the tenants pays the mortgage. If you decide to sell the home in the future, you'll get more than what you paid for it, making it a great way to help fund your retirement. Another option is to buy a vacation home to rent to short-term renters. This provides a less steady stream of income, however, as you never know if the home will get rented.

Flip Houses

House flipping is becoming more and more popular with so many shows detailing the great benefits. To flip a house, you simply buy a "fixer-upper" and do the work to increase the value of the home and resell it. Ideally, you want to do all or most of the work yourself because hiring contractors lowers your total profit. It's also a good idea to flip a home you are going to rent to tenants, so you can charge more. There is a similar option that requires no work. Instead, you must be able to identify undervalued homes in areas that may be on the rise. You buy the house cheap and sell a few months later when the value has increased.

Join a Real Estate Investment Group

Even if you have the money, investing in real estate can seem overwhelming, especially when you are new to the scene. There are real estate investment groups you can join. These groups purchase an entire condo or apartment building, and you can buy one or more units. The benefit is that you get the income and other benefits that come with owning property. However, you don't have to act as landlord because the investment group serves as a property manager for you.

There are so many reasons to buy a house and invest in real estate. It can generate steady income or make you a big profit. If you would like to buy a house and get into real estate investing, contact a real estate agent or a real estate investment group in your area today.