Real estate investment is indeed very profitable. However, one must have the know-how in order to reap large sums of money in real estate investments. It is not as simple as purchasing property and then selling it for a larger amount. Here are the tips you essentially need if you want to embark in real estate investments and make a fortune out of it.   * When there is a downturn in the economy that is the best time to purchase property. Do not mind what the media is telling you. Once the market returns to its normal status, the properties you bought during the economic downturn will provide really fast returns. This is the easiest trick in real estate investments.   * Investment in real estate is not a lottery, which means that chance or fortune got a lot to do with it. Hence, you must do your research about value of a particular area. In addition to that, you must also research on how long you should hold on to a property and when to sell it. With research, you get to develop that skill of timing, which is advantageous in real estate investments.   * Lastly, you must be familiar with the business cycle of the real estate business. This is where your sense of timing kicks in. With real estate, there are periods of drought and rain. It is a matter of knowing when to take advantage of the situation wherein you can really make a fortune in real estate investment.