I mentioned this in another post but it is thinking outsided the box…. Renting: sure you want to do that? Read this http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/sep/14/bonita-woman-forestalls-home-eviction-now/ from another post. Flipping? prices go up and down, as we all have seen in the last few years. Think about being the bank. Buy a house outright. Sell it accepting 15-20% down, with an interest only loan at 5-6 % with pre-payment penalties to protect your profit. Lots of people will have poor credit from foreclosures but still have a job to pay for a home. They take care of the property since they own it and you are protected as long as property prices don’t go lower than your downpayment. At some point, I would be interested in investing in this manner myself in san diego if I had someone whom I trusted that is open to this. Rich- you listening?