That DOES NOT mean you cannot prepare yourself and play the game correctly.

The nature of jobs exert powerful pressure on the people doing them. 

Other things I enjoy outside of real estate include playing video games with my friends and practicing my guitar.

But for me, I like to play "what if" games with my cashflow spreadsheet for both my household and investing budgets.

This is more of a strategic play for the future and I don't have time to pick up many extra properties unless they are very close.

More appreciation plays, no?

@Joe Villeneuve  in the great GFC  mass foreclosures were a result of tenants not paying in many markets... and under capitalized and underwater owners.. defaulted with many ruining their credit for years because they did not realize that they needed substantial reserves to handle vacant properties... then you add in the areas were vacant properties get trashed and stripped then there was no hope for the owners.If you look at most homes that you buy today.. at least 50% of them are failed landlords that walked... this is true all through the mid west.So one needs to not just think that if there is a melt down again everyone becomes renters this did not play out that way last time... many left the area  ( think PhX Vegas) Many ended up moving in with family... 

A HELOC can be a very easy and powerful tool to invest in real estate as long as you are smart about it or you will loose your home and mess up your credit.  

In addition to market sense and people skills, REI also requires knowing what information is needed to determine feasibility, of acquisition, deal structuring, how and if to partner, building the right Power Team that wants to see you succeed and is not only in it because the/ she sees dollar signs.

- Will public roads/streets come into play?