There are only a few major property investments styles that the normal person would consider. This definitelyisn't going to be a Donald Trump level discussion about special financing, bankruptcy, remodeling or what not. This isn't going to be a hub about making millions with 0% financing and no risk. This absolutely will not be a hub about anything you'll find on late night infomercials (yes I do want millions in credit with no credit score to buy mansions.) This hub is about normal people buying normal real estate to improve their financial futures. The three main real estate types I want to touch on is the home, rentals, and normal commercial property.

The home is the no brainer, but don't fool yourself into thinking that the $20,000 kitchen remodel is purely an investment.  Big money spending is good for the home life, but won't always get you an equal return.  If you intend on depending on your home for part of your final nest egg choose wisely where you live and keep your house as appeal-able to the masses as possible.  Just because you love orange doesn't mean everyone does, or because your short and want all the cabinetry lower than normal.  This will hurt resale potential and lower the liquidity of your home.

If the home is an investment it must be treated with the same scrutiny as a business or stock market investment else just don't count it in your investments and enjoy it.

The rental property investment can be the cash flow killer.  Most best selling investment books tell you to buy rentals on very low money down deals, rent the place out, and try to be cash flow even and enjoy having the tenant pay your mortgage and get the appreciation on the house. 

This works really great until no tenants are interested for a few months, a string of repairs happen, or the rental market falls flat dropping rental rates.  You can still make a lot of money over the long haul with rentals, especially if your good at judging people to find good long term clients. However, to reduce risk I'd put more down on the house to lower the month to month responsibility or just expect to pay in some every month as if you were investing into a 401k. 

Many people who've had small successes with rentals making $50 - $100 a month plus appreciation will go out and buy 10 or 20 new units.  Then when the market turns they are now paying $100 a month per unit costing them $2000 a month or more.  Could you handle this swing in cash flow even if the properties will be worth more in 15 years?

Commercial property investments for the average investor can be both exciting and difficult to understand.  You will be moving out of the real estate for shelter mentality and into the real estate as a housing for enterprise.  Essentially, now the best way to improve your returns every month is to improve how your building earns the company more profit. 

If your client requires drive by business to drop in get the city council to cut down some trees that block road side visibility.  Or add a drive way on the other street so customers have more entrances and exits.  These types of changes can have huge impacts for the business increasing the share you receive.  Percent of sales agreements are not uncommon.