That's sitting by depressed and watching a whole boat load of great deals (the opportunity) slipping through your fingers because you don't have access to any capital because all your capital is tied up in that damn piece of land you bought that your can't get rid of.

Furthermore, there is much hope coming our way very soon.Many people compare our current economic condition to the Great Depression.

Not only later this year, but there will be more ARM resets in 2011 than there was in 2008, creating a huge potential for another (or a continued) real estate depression through 2012 and beyond.Additionally, many of the loan modifications that are currently being done are short-term modifications (for example, dropping the interest rate to 1.5% for 2-3 years).

We are approaching allowable IRA distribution age and have multiple rental properties all with taxable cap gains and no mortgagesWe have taken a second rental as primary residence now but why sell at this point in time at such depressed prices, so we will wait.Our question involves transferring some of our rentals to our self-managed IRAs and then using the tax-deferred nature of it to lower the tax implications.The mechanism would be, sell the property to our IRA's at the adjusted base, so no tax bill, unwind the property from the IRA, again no immediate tax bill, and then take our distributions form the IRA's and pay tax on that, which would be almost nothing due to our lower incomes at that point.Again, doing this at this point in the real estate valuation may not be the best, but once values begin to climb againWas just wondering if anyone has used this mechanism for unwinds, I believe it is perfectly legal, but will check with tax people.Cheers

We were based in West Berlin once & often travelled into the East through Check Point Charlie & that was depressing.

My suggestion is to stay away from depressed areas.

If I was convinced that hyperinflation was right around the corner or that China was going to take us over or that the stock market is gonna drop 90% or that the greatest of all Depressions is right around the corner turn I could never succeed.

Totally agree with .... the reality of the spread required can be very depressing to new wholesalers.

If that's the case I wonder if it might depress prices (or at least slow appreciation) up there, leading to some opportunities.  

Also makes me kinda depressed - because it almost completely eliminates my chances of finding a wholesale deal in the bay area... it seems.