The real estate sector can be a very lucrative place to do your work, and at the same time carries major risks. This risk / reward balance is one reason why it is one of the major places for speculators to make their money.
If you get it wrong, you can end up losing nearly everything you own. Get it right, however, and you can end up a millionaire or better.
People who have the nous to make the right decisions, and the chutzpah to back those decisions with cash, can become hugely successful in the sector.
To many people, a house is a home, and when they buy one they settle there for the rest of their lives. To many others, they may buy and sell a few times in their lives.
To others, however, houses can be bought and sold in order to realize a big profit – it is these people who are really climbing what is known as the “property ladder” in some countries.
Buy a house, make improvements, sell for a profit, buy another house with the proceeds. Increase your profit margin each time and you can make a very good life for yourself.
Of course, not every step on the property ladder goes as well as you would hope. Many people do everything the way they’re supposed to, follow all the rules, and still end up making a loss on the deal.
The financial market will have a big effect. Given that the world sees to be heading for recovery, with house prices still at recession-era lows in many areas, now could be the time to invest.