The real estate market in 2012 has begun to see a real upturn, or so sayeth the Oracle of Omaha Warren Buffett; with that times are looking good again for investors. Recently in an interview with CNBC Buffett said single family homes are among some of the cheapest and most attractive investments in the new year – even over gold or investing in Treasury Bills.

Buffett said that if he had a way to buy “a couple hundred thousand single-family homes” and easily manage them, he would “load up on them” and “take mortgages out at very, very low rates.”

And truly, for investors with a team of property managers it could be very sound advice. That said, actually managing a couple hundred thousand single-family homes is a task right out of the myths of Atlas logistically, even for someone with the wealth of Buffett. This largest of factors along with others no doubt play a big role in scaring major investors away from single-family homes, even though they are grossly undervalued as assets, as buying and owning stocks is as easy as a few clicks of the mouse.

The absence of many big ticket investors in the U.S. residential real estate market however makes it far less competitive than the stock market as even when investors of great reputation (and pocketbooks) enter the scene they tend to go for residential income, or apartments and fourplexes rather than single-family homes - leaving a HUGE segment of the real estate market wide open for those with a little moxie.

When asked if a young individual investor should buy stocks or his first single-family home, Buffett recommended buying a single-family home with a 30-year mortgage.

“It’s a terrific deal,” he said. “It’s a leveraged way of owning a very cheap asset now and I think that’s probably as an attractive an investment as you can make now.”

He goes on to suggest that if said young investor is of the mind and inclination that buying multiple numbers of  single-family properties, fixing them up, and then renting them out is a great way to establish residual income.

Another good reason to buy a home now? Mortgage rates are at or near the historic low; mortgage rates are a huge driving factor of the ultimate cost of purchasing a home.

In all my years in Idaho real estate I’ve never seen such interesting times as we’ve witnessed over the last few years. I’m excited to see a positive upturn coming around the bend here in the Treasure Valley. If you are looking for a home in Boise, or property anywhere in the Boise area I can help. Visit my website to find some of the best deals in Idaho bank owned real estate as well as any available listing in the IMLS region!