Some of us are on sideline watching and waiting for the blood on the street.

Much like in Field of Dreams where "If you build it, they will come", in investing I like to think that saying can be changed rather easily to "If you have the money, you will find the deal to spend it on".So I don't think it'll be sitting on the sidelines long.....

I'm sure there are a lot of investors that, looking back, wish they would have put their money on the sidelines in 2006.

No need to point out the issues one by one as others have done that  Are you an active investor or just taking pot shots from the sidelines?

just think about the opportunities missed just because one sat on the sidelines for 2?

@Michael Kay  Mike, the RE game is much like every other market (casino) you want to "get IN and back OUT (before sitting along the sidelines and watching the fireworks drama, from a leather easy chair... until AFTER the CHTF again, before going back to work BUYING... at a hefty 'discount!') 

Most people sit on the sidelines talking about being an RE investor without taking action.

I've been very interested in flipping for many years but stayed on the sidelines.

I am looking to start a side line business in flipping houses and eventually aquire some passive income properties. 

What you mentioned about spending $170k to defend your purchase is exactly what's keeping me on the sidelines.