And then I see this in the news...http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/home_and_garden/2012/07/29/1-dearth-of-listings-boosting-sellers.htmlMy question is how much should a newbie pay attention to this kind of news?

Thanks for boost guys, I really appreciate it.

What I needed was a boost to my want to.

When I read a success story on BP, it boosts me emotionally, like cheering on your team.GO BIGGER POCKETS MEMBERS!

Nothing will boost your return more than paying attention to these immediately.  

Reading this really gave me a boost of confidence to buy my first investment property.

That neighbor fixing up their property and NOT selling will have ZERO impact on your sale next summer.IF your neighbor got an updated appraisal, and you gave it to your appraiser to please consider, you might get a slight boost, but not sure if appraisers would even look at that information.

Buyers who invested in places like Hayward, CA a few years ago (but after the market crash) are seeing huge boosts in equity through appreciation.

Tesla is laying off 1000 employees here to boost Musk's ego. 

Psychologically, it's a big boost because you'll see relatively "green" people sitting right next to you asking all the dumb questions you were afraid to ask :-) At the same time, you'll have access to people who move $$$ and can, potentially, offer you a partnership or advice/mentorship.