If not its a gamble.

.: I don't want to gamble (and wait) on appreciation, all while paying taxes and condo fees out the ***. 4-6% just won't cut it for me.

The whole couch thing was tongue in cheek but boy it sure would be nice for the first week after quitting my day job.There was a good episode on Frontline called The Retirement Gamble that really made me greatfull that I discovered passive income through REI.http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement-gamble/

You can also do them for property use, i.e. a church selling land but requiring it not be used for gambling, a liquor store, etc.

Look into the ad budgets of companies like Procter and Gamble, Car Manufactures, Cell Phone Companies, or Insurance Agencies.

Real estate is gambling.

I haven't purchased this way before, and unless you can gamble a bit of cash without having a contract, I wouldn't suggest it.

They may want to gamble on someone else not knowing the 20 year old HVAC, but as you mentioned, it's going to come up during the inspection.  

Fortunately, the calculated gamble had paid off.

I don't see huge upsides as there is only a few years left in the up swing and after transaction costs, it's not that fruitful to buy now and hold for another 5 years or so.Also, I'm in earthquake country and insurance is a gamble at best as they may deny a claim.