As in all things in life (like choosing a spouse)for instance, it's incumbent upon us to examine our individual personalities regarding whether a proposed partnership would be a good fit or a disaster in waiting.In 2007, when I lost more than $130,000 in the stock market,I learnt a permanent lesson that stuck with me till today.I discovered that I was a control freak.I needed to always know how my actions directly related to my results, and most often like to retain the ability to change my mind even if others would find such reversal a stupid idea.Seeing how much control I didn't have on how my stocks performed in 2008 despite all the information I had consumed for several months regarding value investing and how to analyze a company's fundamentals scarred me for life.It made a real estate investor out of me.The safety and assurance that I was taking sole responsibility for the calls i made and the risks I decided to take was a calming refuge.Having been a Pro-member on BiggerPockets for as long as I've been has its perks.It gives one a front row seat to see in slow motion the interesting evolution of the component parts that make up this mammoth industry.I watched in amusement as one member arrived as a total newbie in 2018 with a welcome post, voraciously consuming unsolicited counsel on the member forums for a few months and then posted a "success story" of his deals after 6 months.Within a year, he had his own podcast and is now buying large apartments as a syndicator pooling investors' money.To be clear, this is not a hate post.I certainly do not begrudge people "crushing it" in record time.Nonetheless, as a 'senior' member of this community who has seen this movie before,I do feel a lonely cautionary voice in the wilderness is needed at this point.We are in an environment of unprecedented cap rate compression and record low interest rates which is only headed in one direction after this is all over.Yes, make no mistake, the music will soon stop.That has very little to do with an upcoming election and is regardless of who wins the White House or who controls congress after November.If you've listened to Kevin Bupp and Rod Khleif, you know what happened to their portfolios in 2008.These were no amateurs, as a matter of fact, they had many years of investment experience when the music stopped.They both weathered the storm and came back stronger and that is why I remain a shameless fan of both men till today.Several others were not that lucky, and you will never hear their names.In this space today, there are investors and there are educators.The educators have taken over the habitat.That is why there are now more podcasts on real estate than I can get through in a working week.Real Estate education is so very lucrative now that it is possible to make way more money from podcasts and books than in actual real estate investment for some gifted marketers with smooth tongues and gifted content creators.We are in the information age after all, and youtube millionaires are now perhaps outpacing patient real estate buy and hold landlords in the passive income/ cash flow game.Belonging to a $25,000/year mastermind and attending a syndication bootcamp does not insulate anyone from catastrophe.

If you can reasonably invest that extra $1,100/month into something earning higher than 4–6% after-tax (stocks, another property, your business), you’d come out ahead financially.

As we reach the end of 2025, I’ve been taking stock of what this year looked like, both personally and in business.

As a long-term buy-and-hold investor in the Tulsa, OK market, I can tell you that “tornado country” sounds scarier on paper than it plays out in day-to-day operations.

Estimate how long before that investment would double if you bought stocks (say an index fund.)

Quote from @Stephen Macknik: I'm interested big buying a partially vacant stabilized 6-unit building in Manhattan.

I’m currently helping my cousin buy her first property in San Diego County.

I think $1,500,000 is a decent retirement savings where you don't have to go crazy and live a decent lifestyle.If you can make 6% to 8% annually, hopefully you can rely on $20,000 - $30,000+ of social security benefits which gives you $100,000+ of annual income.If you find your money getting stretched, sell the house, and put the net proceeds into the stock market / real estate and then rent something.

No, MTR guests don't need or expect Le Creuset or All-Clad luxury pots and pans ...... but that shouldn't give hosts license to raid thrift stores to stock their kitchens, either!

Stock futures extended gains, reflecting investor expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady at its December meeting.