West Oakland, California was once a thriving boomtown, with a busy commercial district and a lively music scene. So... what happened?

Taking chances with real estate scares many people. Understanding just what will happen when you invest, and even how to do it, can leave most people bewildered. The information located below will help ensure your success.

Learn from others experienced in real estate investment. Lots of people love the idea of investing in real estate. There are so many people in it, which has created lots of community businesses focused on it. If you can't find anything like this where you live, there are a lot of forums online where you can speak with investors. Mix and mingle, learning from similar people.

You cannot go anywhere without somebody giving you their advice about selling real estate. Getting your information from scuttlebutt and people on the street is an iffy proposition. You don't know what information is valid. In the following paragraphs, you'll find real estate tips you can trust.

A lot of people are frustrated by small, but ongoing maintenance costs, like painting, plumbing, and landscaping. That said, not doing these jobs will cause the problem to snowball, which means doing a lot of work before the house can be put on the market.

Take care to protect pricey valuables, such as jewelry, fine art or cash. Guard against burglaries by increasing the security of your home. The following article will give you some great home security tips to help make your home a more secure place.

Man's best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. This is a great idea if your dog is outside all the time, or they can get out through a doggy door. You could simply put a key onto your dog's collar, so it is always handy.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. It's important to know everyone who has a key to your home. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

More Americans are getting excited about smart home technology. Millennials and parents in particular are expressing interest in having a connected home, according to the second annual State of the Smart Home Report from Icontrol Networks. 

Personal and family security are the main drivers in smart home adoption – with those two factors identified as the top reasons to purchase a connected home, according to the survey.

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What's more, consumers who actually see smart home technology in action are more likely to then adopt it. A new study finds that the likelihood a consumer will buy a smart home device climbs by 93 percent among those who have seen the technology in person.

"We've been in this space for more than a decade, and in the last two years we have seen excitement over the 'Internet of Things' explode," says Bob Hagerty, CEO of Icontrol Networks. "For smart home to really hit its stride, the industry must focus on what consumers really want – peace of mind. For the second year in a row, our survey clearly shows that people are predominantly interested in the security benefits of smart home technology, and once that box is checked, the new and exciting smart home features and devices will follow."

Consumers surveyed also expressed a high interest in the following smart home tech:

• Self-adjusting thermostat: 72%
• Doors that can be locked from a remote location: 71%
• Indoor lighting that automatically adjusts: 69%
• Outdoor lighting that automatically adjusts: 65%
• Home monitoring cameras: 65%

The survey also found that 42 percent of respondents said they would be most likely to incorporate smart home technology into their home when they are making renovations or upgrades, followed next by when they buy a new home (26%) or move (25%).

Source: "Consumers’ Top Five Smart Home Products," BUILDER Online (Aug. 12, 2015)