Hey,I acquired $5000 from a bet a friend owed me and was wondering what would be the best way to invest the $5k in real estate for the biggest and fastest return?

Vinyl is normally the best bet.

Thanks for the mention @Brian Gibbons but I bet you have done more of this creative stuff than I have.One thing not specifically mentioned is owner financing, simply pay the owner over time.

As I bet you’re finding out, Gary, you could look at hundreds of properties to get one under contract.

Another great under the shed odor would be rotting fish or liquid pig manure :)I bet you could get a small tanker-load of that piped delivered under the shed to fertilize the area in prep for the spring!!!

I would bet chances of a "slip and fall" would be much greater.

If you paid cash betting on appreciation and you don't get it, same potential issue.

HMLs specialize in financing those physically-distressed properties so they may actually be not only your best bet but possible also your only available alternaitve depending on the condition of the property.

My bet is flashing between the chimney and roof, not the caps, but a competent roofer should be able to look at the caps and tell you if they're OK.

I'll bet @Joshua Dorkin  or @Brandon Turner have an idea of when it will be ;) Probably crash the site with everyone trying to be THE post!!