REAL ESTATE can be a smart, lucrative investment, because it shelters property appreciation from taxes while allowing owners to deduct interest and depreciation. In addition, unlike financial investments, tax-deferred exchanges are common real estate trans-actions. However, many investors ignore real estate because it requires daily management. Still others invest in real estate and attempt to manage their properties themselves to save on management fees.

Most of us have seen infomercials about achieving financial independence by investing in real estate. During my years in property...