The risk free rate is typically US Treasuries....but these typically trail inflation.

I once did a back of the envelope calculation on long term rates using empirical research and data on the relationship between the fed funds rate and the 10 year treasury.

Even 4 or 5% would have been terrific compared to what treasury bonds are paying!

I'm not sure what type of investing you are interested in but for a fix and flip guy, you can use the MLS/RE agent license to:- pull absentee listings- comps- search for listings- knowing about properties as soon as they hit the market (you don't have to rely on an RE agent)- search for RE agents that focus on the type of properties you want to buy- identify areas that have the highest sales volume (this is where you want to buy when flipping)- get into properties on your own- are able to control the dealHere are some ideas on how to find listing:- absentee - MLS- pre-foreclosure - Listsource.com or newspaper- tax lien - town treasury department- probates - probate court or newspaper- equity leads - Listsource.com

The proposed US interagency guidance proposes larger banks need to hold high quality, (super) liquid assets for a prescribed amount of runoff (overly prescribed/inflexible if you ask me) - rather than relying on off-balance sheet funding sources and a balance sheet full of less liquid investments/assets (they more or less want treasuries or cash to fulfill a low/moderate runoff, with haircuts/limits on Agency MBS) The caveat is that the runoff is what you would see in a low/medium liquidity stress scenario, so they can still project to lean on borrowings in high stress.

Another aspect, the system is being built control the origination, processing and servicing of billions in notes, while seller financing is from owner's equity (almost like getting money from the Treasury for almost nothing) loan fees will be generated off of money not held or on deposit by these lending service entities.

Having recently resigned from my position as a credit manager, I'm considering real estate investment as an potential career change.I have a BBA and MBA, both in finance, and 20+ years of experience in the energy, technology, and mining sectors doing everything from treasury to financial planning & analysis to M&A integration, which I expect to be helpful in deal analysis.I currently have a fair amount of capital to get started, though some of it has to cover living expenses until I can generate positive cash flow.

Treasuries.

However Bill, they ARE subsidized to the extent than they FNMA and FMC ended up guaranteeing an enormous chunk of the market, paying lots of dividends.. then ended up falling under the Treasury's auspices as a lifeline until they're finally back to paying it off now.

I'm sure investors are a significant part of it, but more so the Fed taper on treasury purchases and subsequent uptick in mortgage rates ever since the last Fed meeting.