I love the BP community and I'm probably going to get speared for this post, but I'm tired of the drivel spewed on this website by really intelligent people in regards to various investment vehicles, but usually aimed at the stock market (DJIA/S&P).  

I believe it has more to do with the reality of needing to find quality investment vehicles.

We scheduled an air quality test and the "contractor" pulled up in a run down vehicle and broke out his air inspection equipment. 

Obviously they are not responsible for any of the weather related damage; however, they had the power shut off and left spilt food all in the fridge/freezer, did not clean any bathrooms or kitchen, broke the built-in stereo system, left nails in every wall, paid nothing for the 14+ days after damage (we agreed to 50% of regular rent), the list goes on.

(Just because they say it's not an appraisal doesn't mean it's not one -- I can't say "hey, I'm not a real estate agent, but let me help you sell your house for a fee...")The reason the Blue Book example doesn't apply is that vehicle appraisal, unlike real estate appraisal, is not a licensed profession (at least, not in my state).

I am thinking of getting into this type of investment as a retirement vehicle, any, and all input welcome.

source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin A funny video about an "investment" vehicle giving a better return than the stock markets.

While there were some management headaches (it's a C-Corp I used for flipping and I needed to make sure there was no commingling with my other flipping company which used personal funds instead of IRA funds), it worked out just fine.The biggest issue is that the DOJ has issued some warnings about these types of retirement vehicles and there is some reason to believe that at some point in the future, they may crack down and decide that -- because these vehicles pay salary to the employees right out of their retirement funds -- it's a violation ERISA laws.Personally, I was concerned enough that I shut my plan down a few months ago, and spent a couple thousand dollars to get a Determination Letter (which I'm currently waiting for) from the IRS.In the end, I made some money in my IRA, but it wasn't worth the management headaches or the stress of wondering if the DOJ would deem it illegal.

Take the $10k ($120 per year) perpetuity vehicle and try and sell it for more than $1 mm! 

In other words, your cash can't just stop there...or you are losing.Whether you ride the note or the property bus, the money must be moving in and out of the different buses, and every time you get off you have to take a new "friend" with you...in the form of cash profit or cash flow.That's the real secret to building cash flow fast....keep your seed money moving through one vehicle through the next...and not stopping in any of them to enjoy the view.