Shane Tilton

Forbes magazine has just rated Hamilton County the #1 best places to raise a family in the United States. You can read the article here, but it basically says that with relatively low home prices, great schools, low crime and an easy commute Hamilton County rocks.

It is true, Hamilton County is arguably the most desirable location to live in the entire Indianapolis area and the real estate values reflect this. While other areas of the country and even Indianapolis are struggling; Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield and Carmel continue to trend upwards.

The report does reveal that the rankings were skewed towards counties with great schools. Hamilton County is renowned for its stellar schools system which is a major factor why it remains such a strong real estate market. It has been proven over and over that homes in good school districts appreciate faster.

If you are considering a move to the Indianapolis area, Hamilton County should at least be on your radar as a possible destination. Feel free to use our website to search for home for sale in Hamilton County.

1. Hamilton County, Ind.

Population: 250,979

Located just north of Indianapolis, Hamilton County tops our list with impressive scores in nine of our 10 categories. Aside from mediocre air quality, Hamilton offers eight quaint communities, a terrific school system, a short commute and low crime. The average home price of $200,000

Tired of the ongoing flux in the stock market, more and more investors are moving over to real estate. Real estate is a relatively low-risk venture and provides greater certainty than other creative investment options. It is highly unlikely that the vacillating trend of the stock market will be mirrored in real estate. Therefore, if you decide to dive in real estate and buy investment property, it would serve as a profitable diversion as far as investing is concerned.

The real work begins once you have made the decision to buy investment property. Finding a profitable investment property is not a child's play. It entails a comprehensive research, is a time-consuming task, and requires a lot of reliable contacts. Peruse further for a primer on how to begin with real estate investing.

Before you buy investment property, you must have a rough estimate of the time span for which you plan to own the property. This is because the longer you plan to own the property, the more you need to spend on the upkeep of the property. Small investors usually look for long-term ownership thereby enjoying the benefit of an ongoing rental income. On the other hand, the more experienced of investors quickly flip properties.

It helps to have a network of people who can find profitable investment properties for you. Joining a property owner's association is also beneficial in making contacts. Almost half the battle is won if you have found a few lucrative investment properties.

To begin with, it is recommended that you leverage your initial few investments, as it's reckless to put all your personal funds on the line at the outset. Loans can be acquired from banks, credit unions and private brokers, which often require a decent credit score. When you acquire a loan to buy investment property, you would normally have to pay higher interest and monthly payments, compared to when you purchase a property to live in.

Experts say that you should maintain a cash reserve for unforeseen repairs and a contingency plan for vacancy periods. It is also advised that you avert from entering into bidding wars or carrying out emotional purchases. You should rather look strictly at the numbers and discern if the investment is viable or not. If you overpay to acquire a property, it is unlikely that you will be able to recoup your investment.

Every real estate market is different, however, and what works in one locality may not work in another. The main thing is to ensure that the rental income covers the operating expense of the property. If you are aware of such basics, you can very well excel in real estate, no matter where you buy investment property.

Townhouses are proving increasingly popular with home buyers looking to buy newly built homes, attracting young families who have ditched detached properties for a trendier, more affordable new style of home.

With the average price of a new detached home recorded as ?307,875 in September, young families are turning to more affordable townhouses which offer a similar amount of internal space but are currently 63,000 pounds sterling less than the price of a detached home of similar size.

According to SmartNewHomes.com, townhouses have experienced the biggest growth over the last year and now make up 10% of the new homes mix - up 3% since the same time last year. However, prices remain competitive and in the current market, home buyers can purchase a new townhouse for less than they would have been expected to pay at the same time last year.

The townhouse is not only popular with buyers, it's proving a hit with developers too, who are under constant pressure from the government to build high density developments, maximizing on space. With the majority of townhouses spread over three stories, developers are able to build up rather than out spreading the same amount of internal floor space you would find in a typical detached home over more floors.

David Bexon, managing director, SmartNewHomes.com said: "Townhouses offer the perfect solution for growing families, with bonus rooms and additional floors families can be more creative with the space, often choosing to convert the third floor into an additional bedroom, an office space or a playroom and have more en suites."

!Detached homes are still in demand but they currently make up just 24% to the new homes mix with resulting prices that are pushing them out of the reach of young families."

"While many new home buyers are turning to semi detached homes and townhouses as a more affordable option this continued fall in the number of detached homes needs to be addressed. government must revise its planning policy now to ensure that this property type does not become a minority purchase."

"While the demand for townhouses has grown over the last year, so have the number of developments coming onto the market, enabling developers to maintain prices experienced at the same time last year."

"Townhouses appeal to a wide range of home buyers from young families and first time buyers to retirees looking to downsize. With prices having remained relatively stable over the past year, now is a good time to buy as their increasing popularity will undoubtedly lead to steeper prices in 2009."