Real estate investment is one of the few investment instruments which have been there since time immemorial. Having large swathes of land in ancient to modern times was associated with power and supremacy. In an era when there are myriad investment avenues such as mutual funds, gold, Bitcoin, ETFs, Debt Funds and whatnot, real estate remains a trusted and tested investment option.

Here is how investment in real estate can set you on a solid financial footing and help you retire early.

Start early

When you are , you must start planning for it early in your life. As soon as you start earning, you must start investing. If you have just started a job, look for the real estate investment avenues close by and invest as soon as you have a decent sum, said Asma Javed, Vice President, in a Delhi-NCR real estate company. At this point in time, the liabilities are almost negligible, family duties are not there and you are in your prime, she added.

When you are making a early in your life, decide the kind of property you wish to invest in. if a long term horizon and appreciation potential are considered, investing in a land parcel would be wiser. As the land tract does not depreciate in value, there will not be any maintenance charges. This translates into a lower burden and high appreciation potential. If you plan to retire in your 40s, the land parcel you bought at a young age would be an asset at the time of retirement.

Lower your debts

When you have decided to retire early, there are some tough financial decisions which you will have to take early in your life.