This area is and has been a great investment location because of the TECH industry that surrounds the Space and Rocket Center and Redstone Arsenal just to name a few places.

When I started buying, REO auctions seemed to have just gone online, and it was interesting to see a new industry sprout out of the wreckage to unload all the inventory.

But listen, we have no kids, very little revolving debt, a big cushion of savings and capital, and Id like to think a firm grasp of know how on the industry (I’m a residential realtor).

Again, other might feel differently here.b) Skin in the game: as a conservative investor, I understand that the dirty secret of industries that the waterfall compensation is in the line with me and incentivizes sponsors to take more risk.

I also work in an industry that is attached heavily to the stock market, so this year could be a bit of a roller coaster.

Just because the real estate industry needed some means by which to justify the price for which a property was/is being offered does not  have any effect on the "value" of the the property...before/after/during a renovation, a sale, or a fire.   

I work in the self-directed IRA and 401k industry which is primarily focused on retirement accounts that can be setup to allow investments into real estate and other alternative assets.

You could work in the industry in a wide variety of positions and learn from some big dogs.

I find specializing makes it easier to really add value to the transaction, and I don't want agents on my team that are going to be distracted by their retail clients and the different marketing that is required for that segment of the industry.

I have been facilitating the use of mobile marketing for years to my clients in other industries.