Second class mail is spam and as I have to walk by the trash bin anyway, it gets appropriately filed before I enter the house :sigh:

As to your comment  Ryan about major markets always seeming to appreciate, I agree but I don't want to gamble on that. 

Google has been cracking down on duplicate content since February 2011: http://searchengineland.com/google-forecloses-on-c...From the 2011 article:"We’re evaluating multiple changes that should help drive spam levels even lower, including one change that primarily affects sites that copy others’ content and sites with low levels of original content.

This has been a Godsend - no more constant borderline spam popping up on the keyword alerts by having the capability to block said users.Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ones that do great are buying deeply discounted properties and adding value or gambling on price appreciation in great RE markets that have benefited from the market rebound following the recession.  

Good point @Joe Fairless a few quality connections is a lot more valuable than spamming out your cards.

I was a renter in Minneapolis for ~ 6 years, the biggest thing for me was location.I would gamble on the Blue Line Light Rail expanions, as it will allow better transport in and out of downtown to those further out.

I've never had any luck with auction.com except for a large amount of spam email about upcoming auctions.Stick with local realtors and your own 4 wheels.

I also think it would be pretty nerve-racking to take that money with that guaranteed return and gamble it on the uncertain.

Don't want to gamble $500 to just inspect a property.