My area of interest is Columbus, and in that city it looks like the proposed casino will be open in late 2012.

Nowadays it is critical to help these agents because they simply are put in a difficult position and if not otherwise engaged, will from time to time make mistakes.I wholeheartedly agree with Bryan that there are some bad fish (taking a cue from Dan's analogy) out there but I tend to believe that most investors are here to run a legitimate business.

BTW...Prudent states like Texas are being forced to pay for the property casino states right now with their tax dollars.

Banks don't like double closing either nowadays.

I think I get almost as much fun being on BP as making money nowadays!

Many people are doing this nowadays at least until the market gets better.

It is very hard to get a loan nowadays for the average joe who doesn't have 5% to put down or good credit so yes there are lots of renters and in my area, lots of new government grants for voucher people.

Appreciation is the builder of wealth but I want to invest more for income, not to mention that appreciation (or depreciation and deflation nowadays) are not as certain today as they once were.

Private devleopment funds investing $100's of millions, local government incentives and tax abatements, new streetcar program just received a $25 million Fed grant and is close to fully funded (and will run directly through OTR connecting UC and downtown), new urban casino development nearby, and with CBD and UC close - it is wedged between the largest employers in the city.I know Cincinnati has a "rust belt" feel to it, and indeed the population has decreased over the past 30 years but has stabilized (will be interested to see 2010 census on the area).

What should I hit up while I'm there other than the casinos?