You would not want to buy for just a few years and have housing prices fall. When you look at the purchase of real estate as an investment you need to look at several things. Of course, when you buy a home you are not just looking at the purchase as an investment alone. There are other more personal reasons for buying a particular property. Jobs The abundance and quality of new jobs in a community directly effect the demand for housing.
People often relocate where there is employment, especially if it offers better pay.
Better pay and demand for housing, will drive the cost of housing up. It is also important to look at the diversification of jobs. If there is an over-abundance of housing, home prices may remain stagnant even in an area with considerable job growth. You might want to check vacancy rates in the community in which you plan to live. A low vacancy rate is usually a good indicator of lower housing availability, and therefore appreciating prices.