I've started riding around and looking for distressed properties that would look like a good deal.  

That market doesn't ride the peaks and valleys of a real estate cycle. 

Duck diving is the easy part, riding the waves is where it gets tricky and yes Ninja Warrior was definitely a lot of fun!

Typically, home sale prices will lag about a year or 2 behind the economic drop because a) there was a massive stimulus passed to help people ride this out in the short term and b) it takes a few missed months of mortgage payments before a bank will start foreclosure proceedings, which can take another 6-12 months. 

A lot will also ride on what your lease says (if anything) about abandoned belongings: Your tenant gave notice that she was vacating on August 18th.

I'd work out a payment plan with him and ride it out.

If you’re getting a full-ride via scholarship then never mind.

If you can identify the transitional areas and jump on those and ride the appreciation up those are the areas and as the other investors said areas with good hospitals, schools, etc. 

Develop a relationship with someone you trust and bring them along for the ride.

Believe it or not, though, my interest-only loan at 11.25% is better than what I was quoted with a PITI loan at 8.125%, so I’m going to ride this loan out full-term.I’m also considering room sharing with PadSplit.