If you don’t have the time and money to put into your investment, then don’t even call it an investment, call that a gamble.

When you gamble it is not uncommon to lose. 

Do not gamble on an oil tank.

Seems like waiting for it to appreciate while you have major capital items looming that could hit before it does doesn't seem like a good gamble.  

Some people are addicted to gambling and some people to drugs or alcohol; I was addicted to automotive performance.

Let me put it to you this way, in Las Vegas you can chose to gamble on many different slot machines, all of which the casino keeps a percentage of every dollar poured into the machine. 

Big banks like to gamble with derivatives.

I understand that nothing beats real world experience, but I like to be kind of safe in my gambles & feel better once I have a little education to back my decisions.  

Locals that live and work these types of properties can hit these numbers all over the US mid west area not hard to do.. were people fall down is trying to do it from their arm chair in CA. or off shore then it gets a little tougher and riskier

If you want to gamble and pay as little as possible, you could just go file the deed for about $75 at the county clerk.