Are you wondering whether property ownership is right for you? If you're considering buying real estate, consider that housing market is currently a "buyer's market", but it won't stay that way forever. If you're looking to get into property management in Hampton, VA, consider the following stipulations. U.S. home prices have fallen by nearly a third since 2006. With interest rates dropping, sales of existing homes are rising. Due to historically low rates, this is the time for first-time homebuyers to make an investment, according to many experts. Savvy investors are also taking advantage of these low rates and either "flipping" houses or renting them out for a steady source of income. Prices are close to bottoming out. Buyers in the past few years believed that the prices they paid for their homes were the lowest they could go. However, home value continued to drop. Experts now say that the prices are near to bottoming out, meaning that a home you buy now can only appreciate in value. This is the perfect time to buy a house, apartment, or loft to rent out to tenants. Mortgage rates will not stay so low for long. Experts expect housing prices to stay low for the next couple of years, but also expect a rise in mortgage rates soon. The rate on a thirty-year fixed mortgage reached an all-time low in November 2010 at 4.42 % (the all-time high was 18% in 1981). Take advantage of these low rates now before they spike. Whether you choose to take on landlord duties yourself or engage the services of a rental management team, buying real estate to rent out is a great investment right now.