If the thought of investing your money into brick and mortar—or perhaps some stylishly-painted siding—excites you, join the club. 

Investing in real estate has long been one of Americans' favorite ways to grow their wealth. In fact, over 70% of single-family rental properties are currently owned by individual investors rather than corporations, according to Census data.¹

Moreover, a decade's worth of Bankrate surveys has found that Americans often prefer real estate for long-term wealth buildin...