When I came on board a few weeks ago my background, internet marketing/website design and administration, lead me to thinking that introducing the concept through appropriate forums, to get the ball rolling, might be one way to go.

i am a systems administrator. i joined my local REIC approx. 1 month ago

You could be in Mainframes, networking, web design, web development, database administration, PC Support, etc.Rather than trying to grasp it all, grasp one really well.

That would be everyone I meet in the grocery, drug store, at Little League, Lions Club, Boy Scouts, PTA, church, the newspaper delivery boy, the postman, the UPS driver and even people sitting at nearby booths at Denny's.Naturally I will tell them ONLY THE TRUTH about how I feel I was treated and with any luck and persistence we may see if TRUTH and WORD OF MOUTH can overcome paid advertising.signed EOCNOTE, I'm not saying YOU should do this.

I used a local (Dallas, TX) franchise/affiliate of Entrust called IRA Plus Southwest to act as my account administrator.

Not your concern as far as the legal stuff, although I'd want to know what the issue is in case it could have some liability for you in the future (drugs, illegal home business).

When you are next door to a gang hangout or a drug house or there is a shooting in front of your house (or any number of situations), it affects your valuation.

On one hand the owners of the vacant houses with code violations are being hammered with administrative fees and code fees from the city, on the other hand if they have been vacant for so long I am sure many other investors have already gotten their hands on the owner or something is wrong with the property to not have been sold and rehabbed by now.

I have drug my feet for a year now being scared.

They are willing to live closer to the riff-raff for great rent rates, but don't have to deal with their immediate neighbors having drug deals, loud arguments, or other high drama.Hope this helps.