The benefit to investing in this part of the midwest is that we don't see the volatility that you'll find in the coastal markets.

Another option would be to purchase a single family home with the VA loan that doesn't cash flow with the aim of holding it and banking on appreciation and rising rents, but that seems exceedingly risky in this volatile market. 

Another option would be to purchase a single family home with the VA loan that doesn't cash flow with the aim of holding it and banking on appreciation and rising rents, but that seems exceedingly risky in this volatile market.Thank you for any and all input!

Another option would be to purchase a single family home with the VA loan that doesn't cash flow with the aim of holding it and banking on appreciation and rising rents, but that seems exceedingly risky in this volatile market.Thank you for any and all input!

Here's the way that I look at it.Almost every asset class has some level of unpredictability or volatility this includes the housing market.

Many folks are looking for less risk and volatility than Wall Street can offer, but don't know it's out there or how to access it.

Our objective in real estate is slightly different than many others - we're over invested in company stock so are diversifying to real estate for less volatility.

Much more so with stocks IMO due to the high volatility, but that is another topic.Using your last analogy; I would take a 15% ROI over a 5% return all day long. 

Volatility & Stop LossReal estate prices move slowly over time.

Including volatile food and energy prices, the PCE index jumped 3.6% year over year and 0.6% from March.