But I got my earnest money back and was not saddled with an untenantable property, so it worked out.

No risk of having a market crash and then being unable to refi the loans which saddles them with a bunch of properties they really don't want.  

I'd like to get back on the saddle with plans to wholesale, rehab and rentals as potential exit strategies.

Upside is my new property is saddled with "1031 baggage" and I don't have to deal with all the paperwork and crap that the government makes you do.Honestly, I want to keep things as simple as possible and deal with the government as little as possible. 

This got me back up on the saddle and I was ready to ride! 

I wouldn't be saddling myself with inflated debt on these houses close to the peak to generate low cash flow.Don't let anyone hard sell you or pressure you to ACT FAST with anything.

Are you looking at the foreclosures, pre-auction lists out in the Saddle Rock/Southlands (80014/5) area of Aurora? 

If it slopes toward the sides of the building or has a saddle, a dip, you have structural issues.

Still, we got back in the saddle and kept on buying rental properties as I'm sure you'll do.As you noted, the big lessons here are to regularly review your insurance and always screen tenants.

I haven't met one successful RE investor or wealth-builder saddled with car payments.