Also with real estate you don't have to sell your position to realize gains. also, as brent said, you can use leverage to buy much more in real estate (and at hilariously low interest rates) as for volatility in real estate, while accounting for normal debt cycles and some worse than intended negative consequences that happen infrequently and expectedly, real estate is extremely safe; depending on your approach.

My recommendation is to choose cities in safe and economically diversified areas with above-average income and population growth.

I thought I would need a few devices/machines to get it out but I actually just aired it out naturally and it was gone within a week.

There are defiantly some safe areas in and around Wilmington that go for a good value.  

It depends on what the expectations are where you buy.The sweet spot for rentals for me is a home that is in a safe area, may not be the best, but isn't bad, where a family would feel comfortable and could become a long term tenant. 

The moral of my safe but solid deal is . . .

Would it be safe to use that lease and just change some things based on my choices (about pets, smoking, etc.) or do most people hire a lawyer to do one from scratch?

Bloomberg states this: “In talks with Clinton, China will ask for a guarantee that the U.S. will support the dollar’s exchange rate and make sure China’s dollar-denominated assets are safe,†said He in Beijing. “That would be one of the prerequisites for more purchases.†https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/310/topics/35940-or-is-it-an-honor-to-pay-the-taxes-?

Play it safe?

There are normal levels of radon and then levels that are not safe.