There has been some good news for those investing in real estate, in the form of stronger US property sales figures, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an alternative investment advocacy group.

Boston, MA, July 05, 2012 - There has been some good news for those investing in real estate, in the form of stronger US property sales figures, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an alternative investment advocacy group.

The National Association of Realtors has revealed that property sales had increased by over 10 per cent in April, compared with a year earlier. The Association added that sales could be up by as much as 13 per cent overall, by the end of the year.

Analysts believe that improving employment figures and falling mortgage costs are helping the industry get back on its feet, which means prices are rising. “This is great news for anyone who has invested in property over the past few years when prices were low,” claimed AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

“It is still a great time to buy homes in the US for investment purposes, as the market is bottoming out, which means the only way is up,” he added.

In fact, prices rose in 50 per cent of US cities in the first quarter of 2012 and this trend is expected to continue throughout the year. Mortgage rates have also fallen drastically. The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage a year ago was 4.5 per cent, while is now stands at just 3.66 per cent, according to a Freddie Mac survey.

Anthony Johnson stated, “investing in real estate has become more popular among those who want to diversify their portfolios against risk. It’s understandable that people want something tangible to show for their investments – especially after the economic crisis.

“We also support investment in other alternative asset classes, such as timberland, through firms like Greenwood Management, which runs sustainable plantations of non-native trees species in Brazil.” AAA claims that investing in alternatives can offer a more ethical option than stocks and bonds.