How would you like to live right on the dunes, where the buggies and ATVs play? Or perhaps you'd prefer an estate overlooking a golf course, within easy distance of your favorite winery? Or perhaps you're quite happy where you are, thank you, but you can see that an investment in income property now will pay off handsomely in the long run.

The central coast of California can provide you with whatever you want. From the sea cliffs of Shell Beach to the mesas near Nipomo, from the young and energetic city of San Luis Obispo to the historic village of Arroyo Grande, this area is rich in variety and opportunities. As the long overdue development of the region continues, real estate is rapidly gaining value.

Now Is the Time to Invest in the Central Coast

This rich area has been occupied for more than 9,000 years, but it is only now being discovered for the Eden it can be. That makes this a perfect time to invest in real estate here. While the population of the area has nearly doubled in the last five years, the area still retains its slower pace and small-town atmosphere.

Though the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco bracket the Central Coast (and are both easily accessible), the cities here are small, and many communities positively tiny. The area has long been mostly rural and agricultural, with lemon groves, avocado orchards, and commercial nurseries taking advantage of the rich soil that washes down from the Santa Lucia Mountains to the east. Even the beach towns are far less crowded than the South Bay or San Diego areas.

This uncrowded, laid-back ambience is drawing all sorts of people to the region. Young families find it an excellent place to raise children. Retirees appreciate the quiet living, combined with plenty of activities and attractions. Vacationers from the urban centers find this the perfect place for a second home.

Income Properties Available

Multi-family homes, condo complexes, and commercial properties are available now at prices that are still reasonable. As more and more people discover the area, housing prices are going to rise accordingly. If you are looking for an investment, you can live in one half of a duplex and rent out the other, or leave a condo complex in the hands of a competent manager and have a place for your own vacation retreat that pays for itself, and then some.

Look at the ways even a single condo can be a great investment. Let's say you have a student at Cal Poly. You buy a condo, maybe near the beach, for him or her to live in while attending school. After your student graduates, that condo becomes a valuable rental property, or it can be a vacation retreat for you and your family. And when you're ready to retire, your condo is waiting to welcome you.

A quick scan of the real estate sites online will give you an idea of the many possibilities available to you. Take a virtual tour of that horse property, or the cottage at the beach. Let your imagination run free, and then follow it.