.- You don't need to offer the full asking price as earnest money, but a large deposit definitely helps woo the seller into believing your offer is serious.

As an investor, I don't believe in ever paying retail.

If you don't believe it, go to the BP calculator and run a million dollar property with 10k rent and 3% appreciation and see what happens after 30 years.

It will be work doing something you believe in with odds of success with the outcome.Any avenue takes work because the top 10% in any field that are very good at what they do tend to make the most money.

I would wonder if the previous owner owed them money and they dont believe ownership changed. 

@Matthew Kwan I believe it depends on the type of loan.

If you believe the solution to your problem is how much you are paying a real estate agent, the problem is not with the real estate agent. 

As stated in this thread, I believe BL does not let you keep your data if you leave the platform which is not good business practice, IMO.

I believe CA market in general is expected to increase by 4-5% but SF is unique. 

@Sean O'Keefe I believe the study this refers to actually costs around $500, plus a few dollars to your accountant if you want him/her to walk you thru it.