I lived in Clayton County (ClayCo is the nickname down here) 12 years before moved up to Downtown Atl.After the school system lost its accreditation forcing the residents fleeing to other counties, the housing crash finished with a KO on the real estate market.I took a gamble, cashed out my retirement acct, and paid cash for 5 doors down here.

Charleston is simply a winner.. but the great part of it is its not a BP area.reason prices are a little to high for all the buy and hold cash flow folks who think appreciation is gambling.. so you don't have the masses in there competing.. so that's the good news.. our cash flow since we got there has been 500 to 1 million a year LOL.. and not ONE rental..

The only time I've ever done longer than a 12 month lease was with a tenant who I had a long history with, who I trusted, and who had verifiable reasons to stay at the property for more than 12 months (she had a job in the neighborhood that had an 18 month contract)...a long lease can be great if it's an A+ tenant you know well and trust, but a long lease with an unknown tenant is a gamble... 

Maybe, but you're taking a big gamble that the person you are working with is taking shortcuts to get there.

I don't think you should gamble on further appreciation at some point the market will have some type of correction but not a crash.

Off market does not automatically mean good, on deal on market does not always mean bad.Last point, if you are looking to sell it for more eventually, and you've done your research and believe that the higher price you established can truly support it for a buyer down the line, then just know you are taking a gamble here.

I am willing to take the gamble and say I am going to be just fine.

appreciation comes in many forms.. its not all gambling and hope.. 

Really this step, there wasn't any one thing that really ignited the fire, but just the general I know I could do better for myself.Company number two. 

And a Heloc would help with this, because they know you can draw the equity out of your home and go on a expensive vacation, or gamble it away or whatever.