All that to say that the doom and gloom predictions smells like opportunity and playing defense looks like a much better risk adjusted option than chasing more returns.

I've met most of my JV partners at conferences like paper source and note expo.

Then take that cash and add that to the 1031 proceeds of the other one and use them together to buy a few properties - maybe one for cash and a couple with leverage and get yourself into a good defensive posture where you have a free and clear property with no market risk and leveraged properties you can blend returns on.The  sector I really like late in a market is student housing at residential state university towns. 

I was just a key note speaking in Brisbane this summer for a PM conference and I am scheduled for 2 events already to speak in 2017 in AUS.

Congrats, on both of those deals and, more importantly, on staying persistent to find your niche.Lots of misinformation on this thread.Andrey is not pitching anything or lyingHe is not expecting 30% IRR on every opportunityFinding and vetting trustworthy sponsors is not as hard as non-syndication investors thinkPerforming diligence on sponsors takes years, not hours or daysMany sophisticated LPs perform extensive diligence on sponsors and opportunities that is not discussed on BP (TLO reports on history of crime, bankruptcies, collections, credit, businesses owned, personal residence owned, employment, family members (including phone numbers), even traffic violations...the list goes on)Many LPs leverage sites like Ian's, 506 group, in-person conferences, and one another to analyze opportunities and sponsors together (it's a lot more sophisticated that the "what do you think about XYZ" posts on BP)There are tons of sponsors and opportunities that don't use short-term, bridge financing or max leverageMost are using 5-12 year debt, with inception LTVs in the 70s and year 2-3 LTVs in the 60s (and carry high reserves on top of that)The opportunities discussed on BP are only a small fraction of what's available in the marketPrudent syndication investing is just like anything else in life...it takes diligence and time. 

They have a conference in Florida later this week, which my partner (John Stanko), is speaking at.

@Mark FergusonI went to a HUD conducted conference many years ago and at that time they said that 40% of the contracts that they receive for HUD foreclosures fall through.

I've done some online research, spent a weekend at a GURU conference in NC last year, and watched/listened to a load of podcasts on the subject.

When would be a good time to have a conference call? 

Very savvy political leadership.The secured and pumped up the Military BasesEnticed Defense Contractors with cheap land and low taxesCut education/public sector wagesAllowed in cheap undocumented workers from Latin America.