Recession- where we are now. 6 months supply of cash. own real estate of different types, but not buying in most areas. several months of food and water.

But there were apparently 5 recessions in the 15-20 years prior to establishing the Federal Reserve, so it doesn't sound like it was all "peaches and cream" before then.The legislation enacted in 1913 made is much easier to have a big FEDERAL government.

Because if that money has been in an interest bearing account for 12 years, there is no way it can only buy half of what it could have at the time it was deposited, even given the recent recession.

The recent recession has not appeared to have had much of a noticeable effect on that growth either.

I currently have 55 SFHs in East TX that have performed extremely well (from both a cashflow and value standpoint) throughout the housing recession.

I lived ina recession, this is a DEPRESSION!

He inflated his way out of a recession in 2001 and now we are paying the bill.

Rather than leading the country out of the recession as it has done in prior downturns, the housing industry is holding back economic growth.

Finding a fully performing property especially at the 50% suggestion with multifamily is a non starter.A trophy property the owners will demand a premium.The typical buyer is a doctor,lawyer,etc. who wants a newer property in turn key condition to us as a tax shelter.They don't really need the income all that much.What I see most investors going after including myself is value add deals.Where you have a burnt out landlord or a property with deferred maintenance or both.Some people have more money than sense and do not make good managers.The value add deal is where you can create equity and cash flow the quickest.Many investors love apartment foreclosures from banks.There is no emotion like from a regular seller but also there isn't usually as many ways to structure a deal.So each avenue has it's pluses and minuses.If you talk to banks they are hoping the market gets better.If you talk to buyers many say we are still in a recession and will not pay the banks prices based on over inflated appraisals.So what you have is a stand still in the bid-ask gap pricing.Some product is moving but not the kind of volume to turn the market around yet.If you want start out with one house and build from there.I agree with everyone on the fees.The contractors will suck you dry.You have to know what work you want to do and not to do.I tell contractors I want investor pricing and that I am very cheap and want a deal.If they are looking for a retail deal don't even waste my time.Between plumbing,electrical,pest control,lawn maintenance,and on and on your cash flow can go out the window real fast.On my apartment building I have a cheap handyman mow the grass and do minor repairs.Grass company wanted a one year contract and 210 a month!

Many of the additional retirements are probably laid-off workers who are claiming Social Security early, despite reduced benefits, because they are under immediate financial pressure, Goss and other analysts believe.The numbers upend expectations that older Americans who sustained financial losses in the recession would work longer to rebuild their nest eggs.