Property is an excellent long-term investment, with the potential to offer good income and good growth. Capital growth in property in the past 25 years has exceeded just about any other field, particularly in the south east of the United Kingdom.

However, fluctuations in the market and the delays inevitable in selling a property make it an unsuitable choice for anyone needing short-term returns, or who might need to access the money tied up in a house quickly.

Many people invest in a buy to let property as a pension - the rent each month can be used to supplement your retirement income, or the property can be sold and the proceeds used as a nest-egg.

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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other loan secured on it.