I look forward to getting immersed in all the great knowledge on the website and provided by the members.

No risk would be keeping the money in your pocket and walking away because gambling is a pretty bad idea in the first place (I work in casinos, so don't tell my boss I said that). 

The yields you seek would involve specific market immersion and hands-on work.

And I spent a good portion of early last year immersing myself in the market.

Maybe Seattle will appreciate more, maybe it'll slow down or even go backwards for awhile, but if you're not cash flowing in the meantime it sounds like that's a gamble that's more trouble than it's likely worth.

Or is it really just take my best guess and gamble with the outcome in such a transient area?

Are people just willing to gamble that the first trust Lender will allow their lien to be extinguished?

Don't gamble and hope the house will be worth more when you want to dump it, and even worse, if something happens and you find yourself having to dump it sooner than you thought you would, you've turned yourself in the motivated seller.

Staging is a gamble, but one that normally pays off if the home is priced correctly. 

dont gamble with your parents retirement. side note if you do this on your own you will be a better investor than if you were handed the money and you will feel more accomplished, good luck.