Buying gold and investing in precious metals may leave you pondering more than a few questions. Making the decision to invest in gold, silver, platinum or palladium is a good idea but how you invest can sometimes leave new investors confused and frustrated. Where is the best place to buy gold and where will you get the best price when purchasing precious metals? Should you buy gold coins or should you choose gold ingot or bullion? Where should you keep your gold and what is involved with storing your investment?

While many investors are turning to gold and other precious metals for various reasons, the fact that you will have a physical asset that is known all over the world should give you some security. Knowing that your money is literally backed by physical gold that will always be valuable no matter what happens in this world might be your primary reason for buying the shiny metals. The one often unspoken reason for investing in gold is the shear thrill of owning gold. The childlike glee that is experienced when you first hold your own gold simply can not be denied. All of us have probably thought of this at one time or another. It may have been many years ago when you were little but you have to admit that at one point in your life you probably dreamed of owning some gold.

Of course, the kind of gold you buy will depend upon your goals and the amount of gold you want to buy. Both gold coins and gold bullion are easily found, traded and sold around the world. Both forms of gold can be bought easily and are available in many different price ranges but you will often pay more for gold coins because of the minting process or the process of turning that metal into a collectible coin. Owning a mixture of both bullion, or bars, and coins is a good idea. Either way, having different weights and values of gold is important if you hope to liquidate a portion of you investment at a later date.

For instance, let’s say that you have a certain amount of money to invest. Buying one large bar of gold might save you some money during your initial purchase. If you hope to liquidate some of that investment to buy some stock or invest in a different precious metal such as silver or platinum, you will be wishing that you had split up your investment or bought a few smaller pieces for such an occasion.

There are many different places where you can buy gold these days. You can check with your local bank or seek out a local business that sells the kind of gold that you’re looking for. You can also invest with a gold company that specializes in the sale of gold and precious metals. Try to find a reputable company that you can trust. Prices and the customer service that you will find from one company to the next can vary. You may find that some of these companies won’t sell you gold if the amount that you’re hoping to invest isn’t high enough. This fact is nothing to be offended over. It is simply an economic fact that they must turn a profit and the more money you invest, the easier it is for them to make a profit and provide you with a competitive price.

If you have a smaller investment that you want to put into gold then you can look for a local store that sells gold. The price that you’re going to pay might be higher per ounce but it’s a good way to begin investing in gold. Alternately, you can search auction sites for certified gold. Be careful and do your homework, though. Investing in gold can be thrilling but avoid the temptation to buy something that looks too good to be true when dealing with faceless names or companies that are unknown.

Gold storage is another aspect of purchasing precious metals that you should think about before you buy. If you are buying a small amount and you feel comfortable with storing it in your house this is acceptable. If you decide to go with an IRA investment account with the gold company that you purchase your precious metals from, they will provide storage for a fee. There are a few companies that provide a low, flat yearly fee for this service. This is where doing your research on gold companies can really save you a lot of money in the long run.

While storing a small amount of gold in your home might sound like fun, you should consider adding your investment to your homeowners insurance. Your agent can help you to take care of this for you. Alternately, you can rent a safe-deposit box at your local bank, if you don’t have one already. Prices are relatively low and you won’t have to worry about insurance. Keeping a few pieces of gold around the house where you can see them on a regular basis or hold them can be quite motivational but you should always consider security above all else. Either keeping your gold under lock and key and buying insurance might be a good idea.

Buying gold can be exciting as well as profitable. If you have ever thought of investing in gold or if you have never experienced owning gold that you can hold then the experience comes highly recommended. Building wealth and investing for the future are often serious business but nothing compares to the thrill of owning some real gold. Have fun learning more about gold investing and investing in precious metals and you may find that you have a new hobby that pays a big dividend in the long run.

Read this Regal Assets review and find out more about gold investing companies. Learn what you should look for in a reputable gold investment company.