But there is a notion that products, services, coaching and seminars are easy money.

The FHA loan single family handbook, HUD 4000.1 addresses the notion of short term rentals although it does not call out Airbnb, VRBO or any other social network vacation rental site by name. 

@Allen Bruns Do you mean the amount of equity a home that is listed has with it's current list price, or the amount of equity a home has in regards to it's current owner?

I see your point---you might let your mechanic check under the hood of your Porshe, but would understandable shy away from the notion of letting him do open heart surgery on you.

@Tyler B Collins and @James MitchellI can second James' notion.

But when thinking about this as a long term investment and knowing that property values will likely go up over the years, I was comforted by the notion that this was still a great deal.

You came here to bigger pockets all on your own on a silver platter.So to Biggerpockets, you (the deal) were handed over to them on a silver platter.The exact same notion holds true with motivated sellers.

HahaFor newer investors looking to get started, I would second the notion for caution.

Go just 20 years ago the notion of which was impossibly rare and insane.

The notion that smaller cities or towns will outperform large cities over time bc "regulation" is not convincing imo.