This was a classic case of a game of musical chairs where the amateur latecomers were left standing when the music stopped. 

I asked an industry veteran (in commercial real estate finance) once, and he told me that the institutions have boards of directors and layers of management, which means there is a lot more accountability in every investment decision.

I work my HELOCs like I used to work my credit cards, playing musical chairs with balance transfers.

I was also the director of Art on the Ave Festival for 3 years and from 2003-2008 was Associate Editor of the Weekly Volcano Newspaper.

How do you guys determine that point where you should lean back in your chair and wait for a correction before diving back in?

Disclosure - Director of PR for DoHardMoney.comThanks @Christi Hawkins :)DoHardMoney is a hard money lender.

I am a building maintenance director for a golf course which has trained me to look for good contractors and how to manage staff and tasks for a high end clientele. 

I got some quotes on a house staging, it was $350/month for a couch, side chair, dining table with 4 chairs and a couple of accent tables and pieces.    

It is a win win  as for me I am able to sit in my chair and watch football and my seller gets exposure for their home while the agent is hoping to sell my listing and pick up potential clientsBack to the question, 25 years ago that is how I got my start was holding open houses at other agents listings to procure clients. 

Retired Army Officer, Bank Examiner, Commissioner of a large PHA, Board of Directors of community non-profits, Real Estate Broker.