REI is like playing poker (not because it's gambling).  

The message I took from this was, only gamble what you can afford to lose and only do it if that loss doesn't change your lifestyle or standard of living.

Hopefully, the gamble will pay off.Where and what you buy will make a huge difference in terms of what you need to do to get an STR permit, how long you'll wait for other permits if you are building or remodeling, what the STR rules and restrictions are (none of the jurisdictions are onerous, but there are differences between 29, YV, and the county), and so forth. 

These markets also have a great employment rate with large companies such as Procter and Gamble and The Kroger Company - together employing over 33,000 people.

So it can also be considered a gamble to some investors.

One of the posters was adament that anything that does not produce a very high current cash flow was not an investment, but just gambling.

A lot of people like gambling too, but that doesn't  make it a good investment. 

For example an investor cannot have a business on the property that engages in any of the following “sin” businesses: any private or commercial golf course, country club, massage parlor, hot tub facility, suntan facility, racetrack or other facility used for gambling, or any store the principal business of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises.With these factors in mind, I would think caution would be in order for any investor looking to defer taxes through this program.

CASH FLOW is everything  appreciation is gambling that was spawned by the gurus coming out of the GFC.. now buyers are pretty much smarter if they buy an investment they want it to at least break even  not massive negative in most instances..

Find a good property manager is a big gamble when you're switching markets....