I've heard from guests on several BP podcasts that 401(k) contributions are very modest investment vehicles and that I should take that money and invest in real estate instead.

I have 3 plow trucks , service van ,and 2 equipment trailers all bought used , and have less than $40K in all of them and these vehicles make me money .  

A 1031 exchange sounds like a particularly tax advantaged vehicle for expanding a portfolio. 

. $10k loan on a vehicle is too much if money is tight and drain the pool if necessary.Also, I wouldn't assume that when your loan adjusts that the payment will automatically go up.

600 MILLION that Obama Clause is going to purchase in NEW gov't vehicles....

Is it close to what people in the area need--stores, churches, schools, work opportunities, transportation, whether it be personal vehicle, bus, cab, train, subway, etcrecreation/entertainment.zoning is important if you have a commercial unit in a residential area, or visa-versa.

I live in a paid off house and drive a paid off vehicle.

As your investing prowess grows you should look into these vehicles for growing your wealth.

Accounts Receivable Tax Building Permit Tax CDL license Tax Cigarette Tax Corporate Income Tax Dog License Tax Excise Taxes Federal Income Tax Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) Fishing License Tax Food License Tax Fuel Permit Tax Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon) Gross Receipts Tax Hunting License Tax Inheritance Tax Inventory Tax IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Personal Property Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Service Charge Tax Social Security Tax Road Usage Tax Recreational Vehicle Tax Sales Tax School Tax State Income Tax State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) Telephone Federal Excise Tax Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax Telephone State and Local Tax Telephone Usage Charge Tax Utility Taxes Vehicle License Registration Tax Vehicle Sales Tax Watercraft Registration Tax Well Permit Tax Workers Compensation Tax STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

This is more gut instinct, but it boils down to - do we believe they are going to comply when we tell them to do something: clean that trash out of the yard, remove that disabled vehicle, move-out in 30 days because things aren't working out?