Too Many Places and Too Many Faces. Thank goodness for Jimmy Buffett on the Ipod, the only constant over the last month!

Raleigh & Charlotte NC for the NCAA's and tons of research, Miami for the Sony Ericson Tennis tournament and the chance to see the real estate carnage for myself (it is a myth, see below that town is catch fire again, soon), mixed with trips to Flint and a couple of meetings in Columbus Ohio. Man, I am tired.

The trip has been awesome, the knowledge gained has been awesome. Some great things to bring back to town and make a difference. The world is an interesting place right now, but there are some brilliant people working on great things and I have been fortunate to have some very humbling conversations with a lot of them. Some were scheduled meetings, some were inn airplanes, over breakfast or at a Starbucks. Wherever I was I have had a chance to meet some people that let me know opportunity is everywhere if you are prepared ( my kids start Mandrin Chinesse lessons next week!).

Anyway, two more months of outstanding stuff...More Raleigh, more Charlotte, more Miami, more Columbus, more Flint, and Washington DC and New York, New York (no Reba not Flaves girl) before ending the tour on June 2 at Van Halen at Van Andel.

Biggest Suprise of the trip so far: Having breakfast next to Serena Williams at the Ritz in Key Biscane, Flint girl has done well for herself.

Biggest Disappointment: Being in Miami finding out Jeff Roth make the Champions Tour event in the Domican Republic and not having my passport.

Most Fun: Calling Repo Suave and listening to him complain about snow while I was in short sleeves!

I am off to stare at the departure signs...

Miami Real Estate is hot, the market is a gold mine. Like finding an oil deposit, it will take a little time to get profitable but you know it will because of demand.

When I arrived in Miami I fully expected for everyone to have their heads down kicking rocks, feeling beaten and withered from the real estate bubble bursting. HA!

They cranes are still spinning putting up towers, the Ferrari population has not decreased and people were happy. Why not with the dollar so low, companies and people from all over the world are moving to Miami, great condos in great buildings are selling at very low prices. The number of foreclosures are amazing even by Michigan Standards but they are hard to find in prime areas, but the deals are everywhere. Tom Grimshaw showed me around for a couple of days giving me the scoop in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Key Biscane and the Beaches the deals are amazing.

This town will scream back sooner than later, the state of Florida needs to address the Tax in insurance issues to make second homes and investment more viable but they will have too to pull other parts of the state out of caos and Miami will benefit the most. Condos in South Beach, next to the new Ritz Carlton for under $300,000? Why not, buy it, use it, rent it occasionally and when things break out; reap the rewards.

Remember what happened in Michigan with property tax reform (proposal A) property values went up 40% in less than four years. Same will happen in Florida with Insurance and NonHomestead tax reform.

I know that this is the "I wish I would have" market. The fundamentals for long term investors are too good, use and appreciation great combination.

Yes the tour has included a lot of work, and here is the result.

In my opinion the sexiest two markets I have found for opportunity are polar opposites in everyway possible, but both hold huge possibilities for medium and long term investors.

Raleigh North Carolina is probably the best real estate market in the country. The Raleigh Realtors are super stressed over the fact they have nine month supply of homes and just over 200 foreclosures. That is how good the Raleigh investement home scene is. Home prices in Cary, Apex, Garner & Holly Springs (all suburbs of Raleigh) have risen in the 3-4% range every year for since anyone can remember, but the current panic and SLIGHT over building have created screaming deals especially on new build properties, this will not last long as the new build inventory is not that deep compared to job growth in growing population. I noticed $60,000-$70,000 discounts on Cary Newbuilds. The great part for medium to long term investing? Very low insurance and tax rates combined with the class of renters. The new builds I mentioned were in Cary 14 minutes from Research Triangle Park and located in a zip code with the highest number of PHD's under 45 in the country! The tenents pay like clock work according to everyone I spoke to.

Why are they renting they can not sell there homes in other parts of the country and cannot qualify with out doing so with the new mortgage rules. This creates huge pent up demand in the Raleigh Market, which will have a very bullish effect on values in the next 18-24 months.

There are also great foreclosures in Raleigh, a lot of great "improve and rent" opportunities. There are also great rental management companies with experience. And not to be undersold the cowboy factor is a non issue in Raleigh real estate. Finding the right agent might be a challenge, my two best finds: Tim Upchurch, 919.795.6100, he has invested, he manages and he knows the market. George Wilson, 919.387.4100 is a young agent that has game as well, he deals with some banks so occasionally has foreclosure listings and understands ROI.

To check out the MLS in Raleigh go to www.RLTriangle.com