In the past few weeks many economists and financial advisors have been speaking to the subject of where to place your money during turbulent times. One safe haven during potential moments of higher inflation and lower GDP growth is……Real Estate. Yes, hard assets like real estate tend to weather storms pretty well. And if one of those assets also serves an essential need – shelter – it is performing two tasks and resolving two challenges simultaneously: A safer investment and a place to live. Aside from the economic considerations, it’s in times of extreme turbulence, change and uncertainty that we all need our own little slice of ‘safe haven’ and a home that acts as a hug at the end of a day, drowning out the noise of the planet, may be the perfect solution. Hard assets are tangible. You can see them, touch them, feel them….experience them. That may just be priceless * Not only does real estate act as a form of forced savings, but it also offers tremendous leverage. You can buy a $1 million property with a $200,000 down payment if you put 20% down. If you have a good credit score and a low debt-to-income ratio, you might even get away with a 3% down payment. Very few investment opportunities allow you to put down $30,000 to gain ownership of $1 million worth of assets. You have to contend with mortgage payments for up to 30 years, but if you earn rental income from the property, you break even while building up equity. · Baby boomers accounted for 42% of U.S. home sales between July 2023 and July 2024, topping millennials, who accounted for 29%. The share of Gen-Xers (ages 46 to 60) remained steady at 24%, while Gen Z-ers (ages 14 to 25) made up just 3% of buyers. (NAR)