[quote=peterb]Every “investment” is speculation. Unless you can predict the future, it’s a gamble.
The one exception being Goldman Sachs, of course. Mainly because they can write the future as needed.[/quote]

This may be objectively true, but it’s specious.

The fact is that if a real estate investment cash flows as a rental, it’s FAR less of a gamble than if the investment fails to cash flow and the basis of the investment is solely to capture appreciation.