I don't think their impact is healthy for the market and I'm sitting on the sidelines the next year to see how things shake out. 

If you get into C-class, do it where the rent-to-purchase price ratio are healthy (around 2%) and have a good property manager. 

If you are just starting out I'd make sure you have a healthy reserve fund in case renovations go long, it appraises low, or you can't find renters.

A $2 million 20-year term life for a healthy 35-year-old male is only about $150 a month.I was surprised that a friend of mine, who's 66 with hypertension and prediabetes, was able to get a "key man" $500K 10-year term life policy for a bit less than $300 a month. 

Hope everyone is having a healthy holiday season!

I think it's a healthy discussion, with all sides coming away winners in that we all know a little more about alternative strategies.I could not help noticing though, that many of the arguments being presented tended to deal with past performance.

If so, to overcome this problem, could we form an LLC and segregate the equity from the share of distributions (at least until I've recouped my initial investment/ earned a healthy return)?

You need to make sure you have a healthy margin for volatility in the market and also potential for increased holding costs if you are using short term leverage.

If so, to overcome this problem, could we form an LLC and segregate the equity from the share of distributions (at least until I've recouped my initial investment/ earned a healthy return)?

Build the habits that are healthy for you, dump the toxic, have your safety net, but don't live or cower in the shadow of that net.