150 Types of Unusual Investments – The List

74. Life Estates – life estates typically sell at a discount to normal fee simple real estate; the reason being is that someone else can live in or have possession of the property until someone dies.

After that happens, the real estate should return to its normal market value.

Sometimes the life tenant ends up living much longer than expected and it takes years before the estate reverts to the property owner (called the remainderman).