At this point, there really are very few 'new' techniques, strategies or markets to take advantage of when investing in real estate.  With reality T.V. highlighting the buy, fix-up, sell to a retail buyer trend, many investors identify this as the best way to get involved in real estate.  With so much news right now about rising interest rates, rising home prices and fewer properties on the market, it is no wonder that the retail sales strategy is getting a lot of attention.  But, if you really dig into the numbers and pay attention closely, you will see that many savvy investors are taking advantage of what some think are the later stages of the best reo-to-rental market in history.  Many investors are buying up properties quickly while the prices remain low and planning to ride the wave of rising inflation as it pushes rents higher.