For example I just sold a house, made 240K in two years give or take after expenses, and can now roll that profit into index funds, turn key properties, etc.Yes, appreciation is a bit more risky, but I wouldn't call it gambling if you know the economic fundamentals. 

You should not gamble with your families health.

I've had attorneys try and sell me on multiple layers of trusts/ LLCs, off shore FLPs, etc.  

I would say that buying in a market like this is a huge gamble, but you can't deny that along with skyrocketing purchase prices, rents have also gone through the roof.

They seem to have no problem gambling, but putting money on their own investing ability seems to give them all kinds of self doubts.  

You should know better.Let me again show you exactly what DMM is and how it traps you into bankruptcy especially for beginners.Orange line is your potential profits,  and the blue line is the potential Cost/deal.Unless you are sending 10,000 mailers, you are gambling and you know what they say about gambling.

Very inspiring thread. and to me the theme is the money is made buying low value add sell high.. and or the dreaded APPRECIATION .. who ever coined APPRECIATION is gambling needs to read this thread.. 

Possible downsides include putting all of our initial investment into a single property, we might not be able to find a property in our price-range, and taking a bit of a gamble on occupancy.2.

New Englands economy is extremely diversified, which means it has and will likely continue to fair better in a recession as opposed to other regions that focus exclusively on gambling or tourism or manufacturing.

Pre-con is speculation (gambling), condos have strata / condo corp to deal with and limit your ability to add value.