Since then I've used keywords and fellow members to learn more about notes and this week I finally purchased a performing 2nd that met all my criteria.

Also, don't put all your eggs in one basket so considering investing in some equities and precious metals as well. 

@Reagen Natho Metal Manor is not for the faint of heart.

I know that all the way up until the studs were ordered on my house build, my builder couldn't tell me whether I'd have metal or wood studs in my interior walls.

After that I decided to just offer that option to them as long as they met all my other criteria. 

I get the Scottsmans guide and you see the adds again for those toxic type mortgagesbut then I am on the reality side that underwriting is just as tough as it has been for the last 6 or 7 years..

I've bought properties from or introduced via people I originally met all over (church, tennis courts, on vacation, at real estate meetings, etc).  

A piece of precious metal is tangible.

Splitting these mountains, thousands of commuters made their daily southerly decent into the city along “The 51” highway, creating a slow inch worm like progressive movement of metal.

Diversify into gold, silver, mining stocks of same, & keep track of the price of both metals, ready to sell, if both go down in prices, so you don't loose too much when you sell.