“Flipping” houses has become a popular and profitable way to make money through investment buying. Buy a fixer-upper at a cheap price and put a little money into it for repair. Puting it right back on the market for a higher price is what makes it a flipper.

In many instances only inexpensive cosmetic changes are needed to give a home curb appeal and sell faster. The current real estate market slump is the perfect time to buy more home for the money. You must be careful, though, and buy smart. And you must be prepared to wait out the slump as the market slowly rises over the next few years.

Still, real estate investments are more likely to yield much higher returns on your dollars spent than some other investment choices, like annuities. Don’t expect to get rich overnight, but do take advantage of the ridiculously low prices on properties with long-term profits in mind.