Over the past 20 years, a new way of creating income has gathered popularity with average people. Instead of just buying a home, people are buying homes for sale and renovating them to sell for profit. A variation of this is the purchase of homes for sale to rent out for profit. This increasingly popular trend is changing the face of real estate in America.

"House Flippers", as they are commonly called, purchase homes in disrepair or foreclosure, repair and update the properties, and sell them for profit. Not only is this a lucrative business for house flippers, but it is healthy for the neighborhoods, too. The values of the homes surrounding the renovated homes go up, and the neighborhood becomes a more attractive place to live.

The returns house flippers earn is greatly tied to the speed in which they complete home renovations and get a house sold. Often, jobs are completed in less than a month and the house is shown to potential buyers. The idea is to avoid the costs of owning the property such as interest on a mortgage or property taxes. These costs eat into potential profits quickly. Reality television shows that follow flippers through their projects are quite popular and show the stress of the job but also the rewards.

Purchasing a "sell and rent back" property is a good way for people to break into a real estate career. When homeowners run into financial straits, they can choose to sell their home and rent it back from the new property owner. This is a way in which the previous homeowner can extract their equity to help offset their financial woes. It also permits the new homeowner to pay for the house while enjoying the windfall of future equity.

Properties for rent back are becoming increasingly popular with the elderly. Not only are they spared the cost of a full mortgage with PMI and other fees, but they are no longer responsible for repair and upkeep of the property. This is particularly attractive for those who can no longer physically keep the house in good standing, and cannot afford to pay professionals for the repairs.

Real estate has changed over recent years. Buyers now have many options such as sell and rent back. Investors are also buying and flipping properties. The market has many opportunities for investors with changing interest rates and people risking loosing their homes. Because every area has homes for sale, there are opportunities throughout the entire country for an investor to consider.