There are many reasons why real estate has been considered an excellent long-term investment. It’s an opportunity that brings tax advantages and higher returns on your money. If you’re looking for a tangible asset that can help build wealth over time, you would do well to make real estate a priority in your investment portfolio.

Here are some of the benefits of putting your hard-earned money into real estate and why this is a preferred investment over equities for investors who want to lower their risks and increase their rewards.

Related: 10 Reasons Why Every Entrepreneur Should Invest in Real Estate

Long-term investment opportunity

Real estate investments are not ideal for those who like to move their money around at a moment’s notice. For those investors, there is a multitude of other investment options such as stocks, precious metals and, of course, crypto. If you’re in the market to sell, chances are someone else is in the market to buy that asset.

Real estate doesn’t afford that option. If you’ve ever tried to sell a home, you’re well aware of all the steps it takes to find a buyer much less proceed with the transaction. You’re looking at weeks, maybe even months, dealing with market fluctuations and, if you’re lucky to sell at the right time, pocket some type of profit. Maybe that profit is worth all the hassle, maybe it’s not — that’s if you actually make money on the deal and don’t come out of it taking a loss.

Investing in real estate should only be considered by individuals who can put aside a large amount of money without the need to tap into that resource anytime soon. In the meantime, the value of that property continues to appreciate and the longer you hold on to it, the more it grows.

Related: How to Start Investing in Rental Properties — Your Step-by-Step Guide

Tax advantages

An investment property also provides ample opportunity for helping you keep more money in your own pocket instead of handing it over to Uncle Sam come tax time. As a tax shelter, real estate is one of the best options around for a variety of reasons.

Consider what makes a tax shelter such an attractive method for lowering your income tax bill, it helps to reduce your liability by legal means. In the case of real estate ownership, your investment property can be a rather reliable tax shelter because the tax code permits investors to reduce their taxes through deductions like yearly property taxes and interest paid on a mortgage.