I determined the ARV to be around $575K, with no allowance for natural appreciation.

It's natural to feel it and be excited about what you're doing, you just can't let it be the primary driver, and especially not let it shut up that little voice that says stuff like "have I really done my homework on this place?".

We've since moved to Athens, about 30 miles away, into another house that we paid cash for and I'm going to be forced to rent the first one out b/c I don't want to sell it for a loss.Now, since I found biggerpockets, I've become intrigued in RE investing and am understanding a lot of things I've never contemplated before...ie. being a landlord is OK and maybe I shouldn't of bought the houses outright...Anyway, the old hindsight's 20-20 deal...A little about my wife and me: I'm a meter reader for a natural gas company and I'm also in the Air Force reserve, and she's an elementary music teacher.

The aspect of technology can play in too investing: For example for those that made a play in natural gas and oil 10 years ago maybe didnt know the Bakken reserve would explode and now it looks like natural gas is headed for the basement price wise.

Be sure of your ability to get that mortgage though before getting into the deal.at the very least, you'll need to have multiple exit strategies on something of this nature.

The only advantages I see in the ETF are the ease of liquidity and the fully passive nature it is.Ziv Magen - Regarding zero leverage, while we all are entitle to our opinions, I personally believe ignoring the advanatge of leverage is not the wise thing to do regarding RE, just as abussing leverage is not a wise thing to do.

Granted I go a little overboard, I'm naturally a very approachable person and I enjoy building repoire with people, but this approach has lead to several deals and I find it worth it.

It's just the nature of the game in today's market in a lot if places.

Hey Sean - That is a natural first question to have so I don't believe you are over-thinking, just make sure you don't let your questions become self doubt.

This fracking in mining technology makes getting natural gas easier and will probably be the heat used in most homes over the next 20 to 80 years moving forward as the price has drastically reduced compared to electric..not to mention the terrible condition of our electric grids nationwide.