They're among the oldest infomercials on television: the "Nothing Down" seminars that promise riches beyond belief in an unbelievably short time. People who can barely string six words together come on and testify about how they took 39 cents and turned it into a million dollars in three weeks. (Or something just as fantastic.)

Why are those infomercials still running, in various forms, after more than thirty years? The answer is simple: people want a better life, more money, and will try anything if it sounds at least halfway plausible. It's always been that way, and it always will.

But I'd like to encourage you not to toss away your own hard-earned money on those get-rich quick real estate schemes. Instead, invest in yourself by learning as much about the real estate world as possible. It's a multi-faceted field, and there are many ways to make money, but they all have one thing in common. You have to KNOW what you're doing BEFORE you commit to any real estate deal!

If you're not committed to becoming a knowledgeable investor, you would be better suited toward putting your money into a well-managed mutual fund. There are risks there, too, of course, but they are generally must smaller than investing in real estate.

There are many reputable places to begin learning, and they don't HAVE to cost a great deal of money. Starting with the Internet, you'll find hundreds of excellent sites that can take you from the rankest beginner status to savvy investor at no cost. Most colleges have investment classes, many of them held at night or on the weekends, and a fair number of them can also be taken via the Internet. Just start searching--they're everywhere, no matter where you may live.

Don't let anyone tell you it's better to learn as you go. That can be the most expensive way to learn, and can potentially cost you everything you own. You CAN make money, good money, in real estate investing, but don't start until you've become a serious student of the field, and have gotten a great deal of expert knowledge under your belt.

Copyright Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Joy Fisher

Jeanette Fisher, author of over ten books, including university textbooks and encyclopedia articles on color psychology, has researched the effects of the environment on emotions for over 15 years. Jeanette has appeared on internationally syndicated radio and television and teaches Design Psychology and real estate investing.

She offers free information on interior design, real estate investing, and mortgage credit help from her websites. Jeanette Fisher's books, available from her websites and from Amazon, help real estate investors, home sellers, and home makers. To find out the four steps for beginning real estate investors, five ways to use interior design for home staging, or how to makeover your home for joy, visit Jeanette Fisher.com. And while there, don't forget to subscribe to her free newsletters.

Jeanette has so many websites because her name can be spelled so many ways.