John Burn’s real estate consulting firm has a warm place in my heart for all of their smart and timely analysis of the real estate market.

Notwithstanding the cyclical turndown in energy, that new Exxon HQ is awesome and will be driving employment growth for decades to come.

You should check out Katy, energy corridor, and Spring.

Who knows, we really can't find out much about their problems until we buy the note.Other risks are minimized like getting insurance on a property, so if it burns, or has mold or whatever, you can use that to protect your asset/investment.

There are a few downsides (mostly the time and energy to get licensed, along with continuing education and a few costs up front and ongoing, and you need to disclose this to potential sellers), but most seem to agree that benefits outweigh the costs.

Maybe you will get lucky with this one.Lots to time and mental energy is wasted by newbies trying to figure out how to do a deal that doesn't even exist and won't ever exist.

I was burned badly with a hard-to-comp property. 

I did it anyway, the day job has become my obstacle in many ways, if I keep doing like this, not only I won't have enough time and energy to dedicate on my REI, but also unfair for the client, they are paying me for full time work I contribute to their team, not for 1/3 of my time, lacking of work-from-home option and high pressure from the one who is a bit aggressive, all these stuff, made me beyond my limit...

Had an ex-buddy crash and burn on a couple nice owner-financed 7-families.  

Don't expect things to simply fall into your lap--you've got to be willing to grind it out.I wish I had your energy and opportunities, good luck!