Property has always increased in value, usually far in excess of the inflation rate.

Buying property enables the investor to secure borrowing which can then be used to increase the magnitude of an investment; this cannot be said of most other types of investment.

Rental Income from the property can then be used repay the loan which in time also increases the value of the investment. As property prices increase, so to does the investment and the increased equity can therefore be used to secure more funds and increase investments in property.

It could be said that property prices do go down, and this does sometimes happen in the short term but history has shown that property prices always recover and for the best part, substantial increases are evident.

If you own property which has increased in value, or the loan is diminished you can release equity against your property.

Many "buy to let investors" have successfully used their borrowing ability to increase their property investments and generate substantial wealth for themselves.

Whilst there can be no guarantee that property prices will increase over say, a one year period it is generally accepted that a well maintained property in a reasonable area will appreciate in value.

People have also increased their gains by investing in up and coming areas or by making improvements to properties. One does not have to be a major property developer benefit from that type of gain.

The following statistics make interesting reading:

• 50% of individuals mentioned on "The Sunday Times Rich List" made their money through investing in property.

• A property worth just €10,000 some 30 years ago would be today worth around half a million Euros.

• Between 5th October and 6th November 1987 the FTSE share index fell by a massive 32.1%. (Published Bank of England Statistics)

Whatever type of investor you are, property should always be the best long term investment. It you are "buy to let" investor you can focus the mind on buying a property as a money making vehicle and concentrate on generating a reliable rental income as well as capital appreciation.

If you are purchasing that place in the sun you can still benefit from the same investment opportunities but perhaps with the advantage of an increased income from holiday letting.

Buying an off plan property can be a lucrative investment because Developers usually sell the opportunities at less than the market value in order to attract investors. The reason for this is that Developer will benefit commercially by the Investor funding the development cost.

It is not unusual for Investors to make 20 per cent profit by the time they get the keys. The Investor benefits from the enhanced inflationary value of the property during the construction period because the price is fixed before construction.

Some Investors are able to sell the property on before it is even finished.

There are always opportunities for the solo investor in the property market!

Prices are probably lower now than they have been in real terms for some time so now is a good time to invest.