The Evolving Nature Of Property Investment

Fortunately the industry is starting to change. Good agents are learning that an emphasis on constantly flipping properties ends in inflated house prices, followed by a crash. They know that gambling on the price of a house is not the best way of investing in real estate.
Several educators are now offering classes that promote much more stable real estate investment techniques. For example, one provider of real estate CE credits is now only offering courses based on this long term philsophy. In fact, this site teaches that real estate should not be treated as a gamble, but as a business. When you treat real estate as a business, you can make better predictions, effectively manage risks, and dodge the mistakes of the past.
One main factor in this paradigm shift is looking at property operations rather than just comparable prices. Even if your plan is to quickly sell the property, you need to know exactly how much the property is expected to make/lose per month, even if it doesn't sell. Look at all the costs, from mortgage to snow removal to roof repair. Look at all the incomes a property has, and if it doesn't have any at the present, be very careful. There aren't many financial drains more painful than empty property.
Another teaching of this new investment school is that an investor's focus does not need to be single family housing only. Multi-family properties like duplexes and apartments can make much more secure investments - if you understand the business. For these new teachers of real estate, there's no knocking door to door telling people that you're there to "help." Nobody every really believes that anyway, and no one is going to thank you for buying their home at less than market just so they can avoid bankrupcy.
Other items in the new philosophy are the truths of exactly what makes a good property a good property. What are the real, tangible benefits of owning a bit of real estate? What are the real tax benefits? And what is the difference between cash flow and income/loss?
As more agents and brokers follow the example of this real estate education company, perhaps the industry will lose the rightfully-earned stigma of being shady and unprofessional, because they'll be acting with the long term in mind, not just making a quick buck.