From an article on StockMarketReview.com:
I think the largest reward to becoming a “real estate investor” is the remarkable amount of profit that can be made in such a short period of time. These remarkable profits are made when the market is in what is known as a “seller’s market”, but what happens when we are in a “buyer’s market” How do we know it’s a “buyer’s market”. Think about what is happening in the United States, foreclosures are at an all-time high, which means that the market has suddenly been flooded with properties for sale.
If you be aware of real estate and the cycle of markets you will know this is outstanding news (believe it or not) when it comes to getting great bargains at a lower price, but it also makes it difficult to convince buyers to pay top dollar when there are better bargains down the road. This of course is one of the risks when flipping properties. The tremendous profits that most investors seek cannot be accomplished if the property cannot be purchased, rehabbed, and sold soon.
http://www.stockmarketsreview.com/realestate/2011/05/28/3-mistakes-new-investors-make-in-the-beginning/