Yes, I am still leading and running my group, and even did a YouTube live townhall 2 nights ago with an 8 panel group discussing the housing market and our views about a crash.

But, I've always had real estate in the back of my mind knowing that it would someday lead to greater things in life that a 9 to 5 job just won't provide.I became a licensed RE agent a number of years ago which didn't get me very far when the markets crashed and there was an abundance of full-time agents trying to sell properties that didn't move.

My concern was that I didn't want to invest in and grow my portfolio in one market, and then if that market crashes, all my properties take a hit.

I hesitate to use the word "cycle" because it was not a normal cycle but rather a crash.

My husband bought a condo in LA right at the top of the market and then after we got married it crashed down to less than half of what he owed.

We started investing here (Sandpoint, Idaho) in 2001 when we realized we could never afford to buy in the Bay Area (although we did eventually buy in the Bay Area after the crash in 2008).

Watched a good friend buy a townhouse, one year before the crash, with an "interest only" loan and 5-year balloon payment. 

But then again, 6 months ago you'd see a dozen articles a week posted on BP about the "impending real estate crash", and that was before covid 19 didn't make me wonder what 1970's rock band someone was referring to.

And that's in DECENT times assuming reasonable rentals, not current crash.

I am not saying there will be a crash tomorrow, but it is not a safe strategy if you are just breaking even on cash flow in a Class A neighborhood.I know very little about those Raleigh suburbs, but the whole area is likely to see strong appreciation.