Budd,I see two issues with this. 1) which HML will lend you money to buy at the county auction?

You will be surprised that the neighbors who come out of nowhere trying to oppose what you are trying to do (even if you're the friendliest and buddy buddy with them).

Take care buddy. 

Evans Wright Congrats buddy!

Also ill go ahead and pm you see if I can get the contact for our buddy, may need it down the road.

Your buddy,Trent

However, my priority is ease of the investment over maximum cash since they are out of state (Nashville) and I don't use a management company (I just have a buddy who fixes things for an hourly rate if things break, but that is rare since the units are less than ten years old).  

If I'm looking for drinking buddies, I'll go to a bar. 

I sold real estate in the 70's and worked at the IRS center there in Covington.I was back two years ago visiting a buddy that has a nice condo in the old Booth Hospital.  

I found a fsbo property for my buddy and he agreed to give me a 10% stake in the property if I negotiated a good price for him.