During my 30 year stint as an independent crop consultant, my wife and I bought 1-3 houses each year to hold as rentals. Once the majority of our house portfolio was mortgage-free, our real estate company started buying houses to flip. We didn't like the traditional way of selling... by listing in the MLS and hoping a qualified buyer would show up. Instead we developed a way to sell our fixed up houses using the auction method of marketing. Due to the success with our house flips, other investors began using our auction company, Elite Auctions, to sell their houses too. SellWithAuction.comIn addition, our real estate company locates, negotiates and buys houses for our "passive partners". We give them a management-free triple net lease at a yield much higher than other conservative investments. When the Bakersfield market approaches its peak, they will be sold to maximize the overall return. BakersfieldHouseInvesting.com