Real estate is an investment that can pay off big—as long as you keep a close watch on the best markets to buy in.
And the prime location to invest in right this minute? Drumroll, please...it's Arlington, Texas.
According to a recent report from GoBankingRates.com, a personal finance site, the city just west of Dallas—with a population of a little less than 400,000—saw a 10.3 percent increase in home values over a period of just two years.
There's more: With a median home price of $240,000, it's actually an affordable buy. (And in two years, your home could be worth $264,000, which isn't a bad rate of return.)