Brent Coombs well, it's all speculative. i'm trying to weigh my options, because i don't have many, at the moment, and i need to get my foot in the door somehow. i'm really glad i asked and got some advice. :)

I average 16% annual2- Cash flowing real property that is high end, adjustable rents if inflation hits, and moderate current NOI.3- Speculative real estate investment, i.e., land, value added commercial turn around, and bets on neighborhood changes.I believe its most important for a real estate participant to understand where he is on the real estate spectrum, i.e., investor, in the real estate business, or a service provider.  

Speculative or Cashflow.

But, what I noticed when approaching people, asking if I could mirror them or "tag along" with their deal to local investors, potential wholesale home sellers or RE speculators in my local market is that I needed some credibility.  

Part of your return will be based on your skill in speculation.

That is pure speculation--I have no clue about other places really :)

I have seen a few predictions that GDP growth will turn positive (negative at the moment) in the next year or so, but I am not really sure what the explanation is other than fiscal policy by a new prez (and this is purely speculative). 

@james Speculating.  

My Great Uncle, Uncle Don Walker, was a farmer and land speculator in Southern California, specifically in the Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto area. 

Things like that.Without some "boots on the ground", I think its pure speculation that detroit would be a bad long term investment or a good for someone out of state.