Going in a deal without a plan/view/numbers is gambling. 4) Before spending a $ in a project, look into all the things that can go wrong / and have a contingency plan. you are as strong as your weakest link, whatever can go wrong will go wrong (Murphy's law) / and thats alright as long as you see it coming.5) Market risk is tolareted, capital risk never 6)Book the loss, embrace the failure & move on.

So now I'm thinking about how to get an above the stove vent to fire up via a captive air temp/thermal switching unit activated upon stove top ignition.

A bit of a gamble as drywall is his expertise but the work is not complex, just labor intensive, so we'll give it a shot.

If you are comfortable breaking even for a bit while betting on appreciation, it feels like a decent gamble.  

Harry Gamble I appreciate the advice and will look into what a title company can or cannot do for me in this situation!

I don't see a problem with gambling your own money, but taking huge risks with other peoples money is irresponsible and reckless.

I will spend thousands of dollars on travel and dining and las vegas gambling, but still wearing the same clothes I have been wearing for ten years because I am too cheap to pay for clothes.

You mention the "Contractor Wildcard" as a gamble.  

Cash flow properties are safer but I don't think investing in equity growth is "gambling" as many people state in REI forums. 

My wife and I have a small buy and hold portfolio in Memphis, and we would much rather hold on to a good tenant than raise rent and gamble on a tenant leaving, i.e. avoid the tenant search, lost rent and turnover costs associated with a changeover in tenants.