Tim, thanks for reading and your comments. This article was more about helping people to understand how real estate investing works without focusing on appreciation (which is what many investors focus on by mistake). I have many other articles that go into detail on actual returns, purchase price, market price, etc with actual examples that you can reference if you are interested.

Actually, another way to look at it is that I do help provide affordable housing in good neighborhoods to familes that could not otherwise afford to live there. My properties are all in good school districts, and my tenants almost all have kids and are happy to be able to live in a neighborhood where they can send their children to good schools.

I don't buy when people are fighting for houses, like today. I don't get into bidding wars, etc. I only buy houses that have been on the market a long time without being sold. Everyone else has passed them by.