Real estate investment may focus on potential appreciation. But real estate market is in such uncertainty that it is impossible to kown know if or when appreciation in value will come. Wise investors are most interested in cash flow.
A rental property investor will collect rent checks, pay the bills, and watch their bank accounts. But the cash flow may not be that simple with consideration of tax issues on income and loss from the rental property.
There is clearly a lot to know about this. I feel you made some nice points in features also.