Its a more analytical approach but it worked for me...

Real Estate is really my long term plan for retirement, preferably sooner than later :) I am most interested in buy and holds as I like the idea of a more “passive” source of income over the long term.

I ask because not knowing you, your personality and experience, it sounds like having a more "battle hardened" LL help you out might be beneficial.

It appears it is listed above retail value so as an investor, I would guess your time is better served finding a more motivated home seller with a price well under market value.

I could try and exchange it for a more profitable house, which I don't think I can do because housing prices are exploding here (2006 anyone?).

Here's a more recent piece - http://seekingalpha.com/article/525421-natural-gas-price-spike-will-be-bigger-and-come-sooner-than-expectednatural gas is a commodity, the same guys who are playing with oil and gold now could easily swoop in and play games with that market - they have in the past, there's no reason to expect them not to do it again.

Scott being in the political thread (LOL), that's what I was getting to, being associated with a site means a more open minded or tempered approach to issues.

It's a simple concept made into a more complex strategy for the benefit of gurus, wannabe gurus and others making a business out of working with new investors instead of actually dealing in the dirt.Why would anyone want to find a property and limit themselves to selling to others in real estate, that's just limiting your market!

I would cut my losses and find a more profitable property to learn from.

I have no problem covering the PITI, but I would like to move on to a more lucrative project because this house will not cash flow.