@Crystal Smith - Interesting.

I've saved enough and/or made sure that I will have enough "passive" income so that my family and I can live comfortably for the rest of our lives.It's very difficult to gauge those two things without a crystal ball, so like Ralph says, it's a lot easier knowing when you're NOT rich.

I don't have a crystal ball to tell you when is the right time to purchase a house in San Francisco, however you can always find a deal if you do your homework with a realtor.

I have used crystal windows in a few projects. 

.- We have many Crystal Reports that we had custom made to the boss's specifications.

@crystal em thank you!

@Brian Bellew Crystal ball is a little fuzzy =/I think anyone who tells you they know anything with any reliable degree of certainty 5 years out is selling something.Generally, it seems the new rules in place will prevent a major depression like the one we just had.  

Originally posted by Billy Rogers:I also don't see how they could have any way of knowing if the tenant is going to renew a year later.I think the point being made is not that the PM has a crystal ball, but that the PM may have little incentive to try and keep tenants satisfied and likely to want to stay, because they earn leasing revenue upon turnover.

To be crystal clear, flipping a home resulting in a profit is not "capital gains" rather, the income is taxed as ordinary income.

Software like Argus and/or customized spreadsheets can given you precise data if you feel like your crystal ball is better than the next investors' ball.