If it's a land locked lot, meaning there is no access to it except through someone elses land, it could be quite a gamble and may pay off big time.

But anyone who thinks that appreciation is going to bail them out of a low or negative cashflow situation is gambling, pure and simple.

I am not willing to gamble that much to be the one that ends up being the case law around it.

I won't gamble money that my family needs for the necessities, but the money I'm using should go to paying off bills and filling an IRA.

Its hard to gamble with downtown right now when there is some very strong potential just in the normal market.And when you state that the current projects are doing fairly, if not very, well, I think that is very relative also.

buying re, and basing all your profit (and success) on the possibility of it appreciating sounds more like gambling then investing.

Then, they are going to agree on an option price that's above market *and* doesn't mind putting down a 5K non-refundable deposit to take the gamble that he's going to be able to fix any problems that wouldn't allow him to buy that house outright in the first place.

If you are gambling on the property appreciating then you are just gambling.

but guaranteed appreciation isn't likely, so you're really kind of gambling...

Now, if there is some concerted efforts by foreigners to buy up Detroit, that is interesting, but a huge gamble IMO.