The housing market is where the rubber hits the road in the economy. Everything else is a pipe dream, a phantom, a piece of paper. Housing means something. I got my Real Estate license a long time ago but was too honest to be a successful real estate agent. However, I learned a lot about the business. I learned what NOT to do. I constantly ran around looking at houses, although I didn't actually buy one until I got married.
I knew that there were deals in Baltimore. There's still deals in Baltimore. Most people pay too much for a house. They really just don't know what they're doing, even though it's probably the most expensive thing they'll ever buy. You have to keep in mind when buying a house that the "conventional wisdom" is WRONG. If you go against the conventional wisdom, you'll be OK. Seek out bad neighborhoods, 'cause that's where you'll find the best deals. Not all Bad neighborhoods will stay "bad".
I always wanted to live in alternative housing. I knew I didn't want to end up in the suburbs. At one point during my college years, I didn't want to pay rent and bought a $75 tent (on sale) to set up in the Santa Fe National Forest. That was great times! I had a friend who couldn't afford a tent and for some reason I offered to let him stay with me in my tent, but I had to kick him out after a week or so. It was my first experience as a landlord (lol).
I had books on how to build underground houses (you dig into the side of a hill like a Hobbit) and other books on how to build a house out of fireplace logs or glass bottles. I had other books on modular and other high-tech pre-fab housing, and that eventually led to an interest in nomadism. I decided to go mobile. I bought a van that I was outfitting to live in, but then I got married. Wifey wasn't interested in being a nomad- she wanted a house!