Real Estate can still be, and in most cases is, a better investment than the stock market has been in recent years. You can outright buy a home, fix it up, live in it, and it appreciates in value when you buy it for the right price and in the right location (your real estate agent can guide you).
There are also multi-family rental properties, which if they demonstrate a “CAP” rate of 7% or better, you would actually get an immediate return on your investment. We currently have a 4 plex in Johnson with a 10% CAP rate! Contact us for more information.