Charlotte is experiencing massive growth, and neighborhoods that might have been shunned 3-5 years ago are seeing heavy rehab and teardown/new activity along with significant rent increases.  

There is a massive trend in appraisers being ultra conservative due to the backlash of them being ultra aggressive pre-2008.

How is this fiscally responsible?

I just traded in my car (BMW 650) and took a massive hit on it because I left the top down in the rain and it was lit up like a Christmas tree and I just didn't want to own it anymore and the thought of fixing and/or selling it myself made me want to gag. 

And as far as when to buy real estate... when you buy with massive equity and great cash flow you can buy in any market at any time and not worry about what the economy is going to do. :) good luck

Issue #1 - a rat entered the house and caused damage to the pipes which caused a massive leak - This issue was addressed properly and promptly.

(Massive opportunity cost to waiting to have 20% down).It's all a numbers game. 

EPA is much more "sticky" than the other areas you mentioned- as you move further from Silicon Valley/The City (Dublin, Livermore, Lathrop, Stockton, etc) areas are seeing massive amounts of new builds and are very dependent on a few large employers/industries.

The three largest parts of the fundamentals are Mindset; talking/communicating with people (sales skills); and knowing financing (both traditional & creative financing).3) Take Massive Indiscriminate Action!  

And having been prior to 08 down the leverage massive net worth route.