.- Better- Gambler- Speculator- Trader- InvestorThe gist that I got was the difference between investors and speculators are hold period and leverage. 

They are scary deals and takes a gambler of sorts to get in.

You guys are right, I realize now that it's probably not going to bring many new house buyers or anything or the sorts, just gamblers driving down for the day/night then heading right back up to their homes.

This is what I would consider a distinction between a real investor and a gambler.  

J Scott- WOW, that must have been really neat to meet that guy. on the biography i read, stated that he was a really BIG gambler, and even finished 3rd in a big tournament.

After this people start to think that there is money to be made, and here is where the speculators / gamblers jump in.

Plus there are WAY   more investors than there was in the 80 s and 90s  I mean its a huge section of real estate. if there were no investors the rust belt cities and other really old mid west areas that got so depressed would have really cratered.. but folks are chasing cash flow .. and only cash flow they are not looking at the other things that sustain value in real estate.. and for whatever reason they all now thing cash flow is the only smart play and anyone who invests for appreciation is a bozo and a gambler.. which I don't get.  

You have to be in the right area of the South Shore & have a gambler's mentality.  

For all your experience a quick glance at your company shows that you're marketing all sorts of gambler type insurance products such as 200% of replacement value policies.

That does not mean that you necessarily need to be a speculative gambler to invest in these markets, though ... a few pointers:1)Timing for buy-and-hold is very important in these markets.