Is There Risk in Real Estate Investing?

I have learned that investing is all about research. So many people express how risky real estate investing can be, however there can be no risk when you know what you are doing. Risk comes from being unsure.
Thorough research provides knowledge about your market or area of investment. In real estate investing knowing your market is the key. Know the population, employment, good locations, supply and demand for housing and other characteristics about your market. This is better than just assuming that property will go up in value or that you will get someone to rent your investment property.
There are a few ways that you can go about getting this type of information:
1) Speak to your city officials to find out the population projection for your desired investment market.

2) Use the Internet to do as much research as possible.

3) Put together a team of professionals. Realtors, lawyers, mortgage brokers, appraisers, property managers etc.

4) Read your local paper.

5) Tour the area and pretend as though you were a resident there.
There are other ways to find information. This may seem like too much work but would you rather put in less work and create more risk?
Anyway these are just some basics on eliminating the so called risk that may be involved in real estate investing.