Not exactly the best way to grow a business and my day job suffered because of it.  

I think it depends on the investor, but in general, you don't hear people talking about "Real Estate Traders" or "RE Speculators"   As the stock market turns nasty in the next 18 months (my prediction) I believe housing will suffer a bit.  

If they pay more, margins suffer.

Most subdivisions in Metro Atlanta are conforming ones only to their respective subdivisions, which means you'll find a subdivision of contemporary homes built in the '70's selling in the mid 200's sitting right next to a subdivision of traditional homes in the $600's sitting right next to a distressed subdivision in the low $100's suffering from a 6-month 50% foreclosure rate, all with totally different rent rates.

Please exclude the school of hard knocks-meaning any losses you suffered; although, they are often a great teaching tool they are harder to quantify.  

Account Closed, have you heard the Chinese proverb that begins: the best time to plant a tree...? 

Hillsborough only has 3 incorporated cities that you need to know the rules for: Tamps, Plant City and Temple Terrace, the rest is all unincorporated county.Pinellas is a great place to invest, too -- it's all close to the beach! 

Out of state job holding types that move around, yes, that's a collection issue, a business owner planted in a good business, that is another hoop to jump through but they get stuck with costs of collection, so I'd bet they would just pay it.

Petersburg, being your next door neighbor and part of the same Metro area, has suffered from the same hedge fund activity.

Doors get punched a lot when people rent, your going to replace some of those, you will spend a lot of time in Lowes or Home Depot.Spruce up your outside property with new paint on a fence, plant perrennial flowers, and replace bad grass with sod and water water water.