Survey: 65% of IRA holders consider real estate as an investment for retirement

I found this article browsing google the other day and had to share it. It is from the Birmingham Business Journal, quoting a survey conducted by a firm called Guidant Financial Group. Real Estate has been and will continue to be a predictable investment for building wealth for retirement. We will see more and more traditional long-term hold strategies and a new wave of investors looking to rent property out for 5 years at a conservative 4% annual appreciation rate rather than flip a property for 30% profits in what used to be 20 days.

The article:

"Despite a slow national real estate market, a recent survey showed real estate is the No. 1 choice for self-directed investors.

Washington-based Guidant Financial Group conducted a survey of nearly 1,000 self-directed IRA holders and found that nearly 65 percent of the respondents said they were considering property as an investment for their retirement savings.

Nearly 60 percent chose rental property, more than 36 percent chose foreclosures and preforeclosures and more than 28 percent chose raw land.

"These numbers provide valuable insight into the minds of investors," said David Nilssen, president and CEO of Guidant.

"It demonstrates that, although the real estate market is experiencing a downturn, many still continue to view real estate as a secure and viable means to growing their nest egg."

Other choices, according to the survey, included: tax liens and deeds, 29 percent; business/franchise, 22.8 percent; hard money lending, 22 percent; notes, 19.3 percent; vacation property, 19 percent; foreign investments, 10.4 percent; and securities, 7 percent."