Things I am doing: Listening to a podcast daily--chosen near random because I know no one, but everyone has been amazing.

Banking on appreciation is always a gamble, but it could potentially pay off in the long run.You might consider putting in a lower offer.

They do it illegally... it's a gamble, especially because the heights has some very nosy neighbors and the city has apps that make it exceptionally easy to report these things with a few clicks.

The inspectors said they don't know, so its a gamble.

Taxes are going up, vote for gambling and maybe we can all get relief. 

That's much more important than assets chosen.

What do you guys do about notifying applicants that they were not chosen?  

I know in my chosen market with absentee multi family owners having 60% equity I had over 500 contacts.

Renovate your current kitchen, take the family to disneyland, gamble it away in vegas, or buy another investment property. 

To dollar-cost-average over several real estate cycles.Anyone who had done that over any significant period of time in recent history -- regardless of the time period chosen -- would have fared very well.