Rarely is the phenomenon as organized as Rameau's effort to "liberate" foreclosed homes.Florida _ especially the Miami area, with its once-booming condo market _ is one of the hardest-hit states in the housing crisis, largely because of overbuilding and speculation.

This one looks like a marginal speculation play because you're all in right at the ARV, and I doubt your rent is anywhere near what you need.

Off-plan prices have dropped as much as 20 percent since September, according to developer Al Jabal Holdings. “The speculative buyers were more than 50 percent of the market,†said Eckart Woertz, chief economist at the Dubai- based Gulf Research Center. “They have disappeared.†Istanbul native Sebat said he’s prepared to leave after 12 years in Dubai. “I will be in a very big panic and will want to get out of Dubai if I don’t think things will get better,†he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A lession in why one should only trust what you can PROVEOctober 13, 2008StanChart lowers UAE growth forecast to 2.7% for 2009http://arabianmoney.net/2008/10/13/stanchart-lowers-uae-growth-forecast-to-27-for-2009/The UAE current account surplus is 20 per cent of GDP, an ‘extraordinary situation’ which makes the country a natural winner as a net lender when so many countries will become net borrowers.

I suspect in many cases the landlord is a speculator who's dealing with negative cash flow, even with they mythical "cash flow = rent - PITI" equation.

If you have positive cash flow income you are investing, if you are hoping for a capital gain you are speculating.

But it is pure speculation, just like trying to speculate on the housing market.

Oil/gold - speculators are getting torn up and they are 'pi$$ed' about itResidential RE - buy and hold (no place to sell and HARD MONEY is tapped out for 09)Commercial RE - RETAIL is going to get kicked hard.

I am wondering if there is a dollar volume parallel with RE speculators and investors out there.

I think at a small cash outflow or breakeven you are banking on the favorable tax treatments and potential speculative appreciation on the property.

I am big fan of a barbell strategy in times like this. 80 to 90 percent of your money in something safe that produces income, the rest in the most leveraged, speculative investment.