Simple enough, all I have to do is get a loan, find a place, fix it up and BOOM I make profit.

The Fed has engineered two booms and busts (the dot-com boom/bust and the real estate boom/bust).

The real estate market has been booming here over the past several years due to Las Cruces receiving nationwide recognition from such distinguished sources as Forbes/Milken Institute, Money Magazine, USA Today, Inc., Where to Retire.

I would also like to look for investment properties in Coastal NC region.From what I've gathered from a few people I know who work for Intracoastal Realty in New Hanover County, it sounds like the housing boom is not what it was 2-3 years ago and things are starting to flatten out a bit, but there are still some great deals out there.They also mentioned that for a while everyone was listing their homes for sale and nobody was buying, this was during the housing crises earlier last year.

Yes, it's starting to really boom!

Before our local boom started, they were in the range of 65-95K.

OTOH, we may look back in a year (or a month) when its $2000 and wish for that cheap $900 stuff.You guys probably recall me mention Harry Dent's "The Next Great Bubble Boom" and John Talbott's "Sell Now".

Because of the city's location and proximity to the Marcellus boom the rental rates continue to rocket up.

I'm in Massachusetts and the rental market is booming and I'd like to find reliable resources to work with.

Tom,It's like stock.There are buyers that buy 3 shares every 2 weeks not matter the price and then those that buy much more in the CYCLE that is most advantageous for them to do so.I like LEVERAGE.I think LEVERAGE was bad during the boom times because now many are upside down.When interest rates are low now and prices are rock bottom they will not stay that way forever.So I would leverage and get as many amazing deals as you can right now and when the cycle starts going up get real picky about what you add from then on to add to your portfolio.If you buy right leverage is a great thing.