Over the last few years, investors and all people have really been on a roller coaster ride in the marketplace. Of course the housing boom and bust is one of the main driving forces behind the massive recession that has plagued the country and the world. However, there have been some signs of recovery in the marketplace, so is it time to make your move back into real estate?

For one thing, a smart investor always wants to get in on the bottom floor. If the recovery is really going to stick, then you want to jump back in as soon as possible because prices are only going to continue to go up. As more and more people gain this confidence for themselves, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy because confidence leads to buying in, which leads to higher prices, more confidence and more buying in!

That doesn't mean you should start purchasing risky properties right and left just for the sake of it. If there is a lesson to be learned from this whole disaster it's that more common sense is needed, and smart choices need to be made. That doesn't mean that you can't take big risks. But big risks can lead to both big failures and big successes, just ask Donald Trump or any other prominent real estate investor.

You have to determine how much risk you are comfortable dealing with, and what kinds of properties and price ranges are really in your wheelhouse. If you're Donald Trump, then you're certainly not risk averse and you have the bank account to match it. But if you want to get back in on the real estate market for yourself, you can follow a more conservative approach that lets you slowly build a portfolio and earn a profit.

The real estate market is going to shoot back up. The question is when, and whether or not you will be enjoying the ride or shooting yourself for staying put.