post.But of course, we can't stop the amateur economists here on BP in showing us their "crystal ball" isn't it?

@Crystal Brooks @Chad Gross @Aaron K.Thank you for the feedback.

The lender with the debt at 100% is much less likely to foreclose as they will crystalize a loss.

I've also been advised by an investor I consider a possible mentor to look into a HELOC to start making moves with.My question is this: I feel like we're looking at being at the height of the market (Yeah, I know nobody has a crystal ball - but pricing in my area really just seems higher than it should be at).

Hold it long enough and your tax base is far below value.So I do not have a crystal ball but I know the past has indicated purchasing at close to market highs has provided a good return for a long hold and I know that missing out on an appreciation cycle could result in being priced out of a market.If you like the house and the area and can afford it, I recommend buy rather than wait for any potential, but far from guaranteed, price decline.

@Crystal Brooks Thank you!

I'd make sure you were crystal clear on the financials - ACCURATE ones, including rent rolls (we've seen incredible disparity in rent rolls in facility after facility) - and if the opportunity exists for seller financing, that is a fantastic way to sweeten the deal for you. 

@Camille Johnson I am up in Crystal Lake and just starting out, you are much further along in the process, I guess I want to be just like you when I grow up LOL!

When it does, I ask the buyer to make a decision between us - and yes, I have walked away in those situations.As to the future, the key item that all of the crystal ball gazers are overlooking is that real estate is not a commodity the way an airline ticket or a new Chevy is. 

The seller does not have a crystal ball and cannot disclose that the tenant is not going to pay the when when the seller does not know whether or not the tenant will pay the rent, but the seller does have the right to hope the tenant will pay the rent and he has the right to keep the deposit for the portion of rent that was owner when he owned the property.