How Optimistic am I about Real Estate?

As optimistic as ever. And perhaps will be more so when this market recovers, because then I will have been there, done it (or seen it).

I was talking to a potential real estate investor yesterday. One thing that always strikes me about people that have been investing in real estate for a while (a while = more than a decade) is that they seem very calm about what's going on in the market. They see prices falling and REOs and they realize it is only part of a cycle. What's more, they all insist it has been much, much worse.

I yearn to have that knowledge first-hand.

I am as invested in this market as ever. True, when we bought our rentals, we probably did not time the purchase perfectly. But we haven't panicked and sold them either. There is a method to this madness and it is this: TIME. What is debt today is equity tomorrow. And the houses are rented, so why sell anyway? What difference does short term fluctuation make except to my net worth and that too for a short while?

Real estate investing is all about learning and the learning curve can sometimes be pretty sharp. But life on the other side is worth it and I can't wait!

Some have criticized my "uber enthusiasm" (And for heaven's sake... Please stop using that U word - it's so pretentious!) for real estate, but I'm sticking to my guns. Even in a down market. I just wish I had seen it coming and had enough capital to buy more rentals at this time. Oh well, I'll be better prepared the next time.

Yes, as optimistic as ever! That about sums it up.