@Will Tavis There's a 15% Non-Resident Speculation Tax if you're planning on buying in any of these areas in Ontario: City of BarrieCounty of BrantCity of BrantfordCounty of DufferinRegional Municipality of DurhamCity of GuelphHaldimand CountyRegional Municipality of HaltonCity of HamiltonCity of Kawartha LakesRegional Municipality of NiagaraCounty of NorthumberlandCity of OrilliaRegional Municipality of PeelCity of PeterboroughCounty of PeterboroughCounty of SimcoeCity of TorontoRegional Municipality of WaterlooCounty of Wellington, andRegional Municipality of York.

This involves investing using solid criteria and fundamentals, not speculating or relying on appreciation or rent growth, and of course solid cash flow.

It is not generally a investor friendly environment for those seeking positive cash flow.SFH investing is primarily speculating on appreciation and benefiting from a mortgage pay down play.

More speculative markets like Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and even Canada tend to be far more volatile.

The equity doesn't do much good if its sitting in the property, appreciation is a bonus and its speculative.

I would not speculate on appreciation in todays markets. 

So this is all speculation (b/c they can't identify any other cause), but I'm worried the homeowner is going to ask for the duct replacement as they believe it should have been done during reno. 

There is a lot of speculation/risk in this strategy, but I'm sure it's worked fine for the last 8 years, as prices have risen every year.

But it seems to me that over the last 20-30 years there's been a speculative frenzy around real estate far beyond anything seen for most of the 20th century.

I have the feeling real estate is going to be less lucrative over the next few years because of a declining market, so I don't want to speculate too much.