Real estate is one of the few investment vehicles where bank lending is standard practice, affording investors the ability to leverage capital and thereby increase overall return on investment. Unlike stocks and bonds, an investment in real estate is backed by bricks and mortar and the effective running of a property and decisions regarding the upkeep, capital improvements, leasing, marketing and financing provide an investor with a greater degree of control over the performance of real estate than other types of investments. 

A key feature of real estate investment is the significant proportion of total return that accrues from rental income over the investment period and it's inflation hedging capability, which stems from the positive relationship between GDP growth and demand for real estate - as economies expand, the demand for real estate drives rents higher and this in turn translates into higher capital values.

New York City in particular attracts real estate investors from all over the world and as demand in this prime market continues, investing in New York City real estate demonstrates strong growth prospects.