No offshore and no complicated deductions etc.

Until you have the keys and your name as owner, it is all a gamble on whether anyone will want to bid on a project that might fall through.

I am a search and rescue/EMS helicopter pilot for the offshore oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico.

Look forward to meeting everyone interested in Offshore opportunities in Belize focused in the Placencia area. 

One issue i see with doing it the way you're thinking is that in our market in Miami the gamble is much more risky, with the crazy high rents in those areas you mentioned so you have to make sure that area can be constantly rented out, otherwise you're gonna have to bite that monthly lease payment.

I have to admit that I started second-guessing my gamble of buying 1/2 a house for $130k and having a "partner" on the other half who didn't know that the house was on these two lots.

,My Answer would be -  In today's market if i want to buy #1 Reason would be Low Interest rates (knowing exactly when to buy can be a bit of gamble.

@Jesse Wixson,Purely my opinion...Investing for appreciation is speculation (read: gambling). ...and equity doesn't pay the bills. 

That includes the rental income, and monthly rental expenses.Contractor:As for myself, I am an offshore oil and gas inspection manager.

@Pat Brown,Investing for appreciation is known as speculation (read: gambling).