others would be wiped out.all because they sold or did not want to buy lower yield.. chasing yield is gambling as much as those that say buying for appreciation is gambling.. probably worse actually.. 

I don't mind gambling a small fee to each interesting property to discover whether or not there is a problem, but to stumble into a million dollar liability will end me.

Someone will be thrilled to buy and live in that house now.Curious, do you hire out to other flippers in your area?  

It also comes down to goals if you in Seattle and do a Heloc or refi just know your doing it for appreciation (which I call gambling) but others will call investing.

Dimon, et al. feel that it is their right to gamble totally unregulated while still being backed by the tax payer if their bets fail? 

Instead of recarpeting,  we want to do tile and the tenant is thrilled about this.  

That's not a gamble I would be willing to take.

Hardwood floor afficionados, hardliners and enthusiasts might not like that approach of covering the hardwood floors, but I must say, they look great, and from a tenant's perspective, they are thrilled with having nice, gleaming, hardwood floors.

You are right this one kind of is a gamble but what can I do now, other than change the decisions that I make in the future.

That is called gambling.