Now several sell each year and I buy some each year -- it is the "Bond Ladder" of the past with much better than bond returns.Yes, I expect that there will be a year in the future that will be the wrong year to sell and I will live on other money that year. 

If you are looking for the safest investment, invest in government bonds. 

New Mexico State Bond Program.

personal hard money and cashed in savings bonds How did you add value to the deal?

Ive had a seller hold note before and I was able to rehab the property and just go to bank and refi, not needing to put a down payment into the deal, which is great.However I’ve never done “bond for deed” so i need to know if I’ll be able to just refi or need to purchase, when it’s due.

Ive had a seller hold note before and I was able to rehab the property and just go to bank and refi, not needing to put a down payment into the deal, which is great.However I’ve never done “bond for deed” so i need to know if I’ll be able to just refi or need to purchase, when it’s due.

Example: You or your property manager has a non-professional electrician (side job, no insurance, not bonded, not licensed, etc) make a repair that later causes a fire.

I need to cut my teeth on.

I do not want to turn this into a real estate vs. paper asset (stocks, bonds, etc) debate. 

If you are one of the few grads with savings that you can afford to lose, then an investment into bonds is the way to go assuming we are on a downward slope.