Don't get me wrong; there are plenty of issues/problems/quirks that old houses have that new houses don't, and an old house can obviously have hidden problems and big repair/maintenance bills too...but, the point is: a brand new house is not a foolproof solution to repairs/maintenance (and in some cases, a brand new house can be a much bigger gamble than an older house).This is a particularly important lesson for inexperienced investors, who tend to be the most prone to "shiny object syndrome" (the tendency to let nice aesthetics distract from real, underlying issues).

Conshohocken is a quite popular area for young professionals, as it is residential but still has a solid bar scene is convenient to all of the greater Philadelphia area - easy access to all regional highways, < 30 minutes to downtown Philly on train.

Only see what it has done and that isn't saying much in the markets I gamble on.

TKs as an asset class are an excellent option for some people because they are convenient, allow for a low-entry point in terms of initial capital required and provide (in most cases) a modest amount of immediate cash flow.

If you want to invest in Boise and are trying to time the market in expectation of a significant correction, that is a gamble.

It would be very convenient to be living within blocks of a rental and maybe it would be good to dive in head first to a possibly high maintenance situation to learn the ropes.

Pay slips are a convenient new way to pay your rent at a local CVS rather than making the drive into our office.

But this was interesting enough to take a little gamble on. 

I want an honest and communicative lender that doesn't have DTI or bank statement cash flow requirements, that will lend on ARV, desktop appraisal preferred, that will lend up to 100% for purchase and rehab, that has a simple and convenient construction draw method not involving physical inspections.

You can't make the 1% rule here without going to a bad area, and I'd rather get a higher return out of state than gamble on appreciation.