81. Real Estate ETFs: Not Residential!

There are a number of ETFs out there that offer exposure to real estate, and some investors are under the impression that these vehicles might be useful tools for betting on rising home prices in the United States. But that's really not the case at all; most real estate ETFs hold real estate investment trusts (REITs) that in turn invest primarily in commercial and industrial real estate. So instead of single family homes and McMansions, real estate ETFs hold office buildings and storage facilities.

If you're looking to bet on rising home prices, you're going to have to look beyond the ETF universe; there simply isn't a product that delivers that type of exposure (yet).

Bottom Line: It's a common misconception that real estate ETFs offer exposure to the residential housing market, when in fact most of these products invest in commercial and industrial properties.

82. Other Ways To Invest In Commodities

There are dozens of commodity ETPs on the market that hold futures contracts or even physical metals, as well as several more that focus on equities of commodity-intensive stocks (e.g., the Commodity Producers Equities ETFdb Category). But those products aren't the only ways to establish exposure to natural resources; there are a couple of additional ETFs that can deliver "indirect" exposure to commodities:

Guggenheim ABC ETF (ABCS): This ETF focuses on three commodity powerhouses: Australia, Brazil, and Canada. As such, the portfolio includes some of the world's biggest commodity producers. But there's also exposure to economies that could benefit from the "trickle down" effect of strong commodity demand.

WisdomTree Commodity Currency Fund (CCX): This ETF offers exposure to a basket of currencies of major commodity producers, including both emerging and developed markets. Strong demand for commodities should generally equate to appreciation of these currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.

Bottom Line: There are number of ETF that can help you achieve "indirect" exposure to a desired commodity.

83. Rounding Out Emerging Markets Exposure