I just found this site this morning and was instantly hooked.I am a Real Estate investor with two properties in the Central Florida area (though I actually live in the panhandle).

Paint covers a lot of problems and instantly gives a house a new feel.

If not, you can continue to save or come up with a plan B/C/D, which might entail you finding a single family in an up and coming area, renovating it, and reveling in the instant equity.

Yes, I am an instant member. 

With Excel recalcing really instantly makes this easy.

I respond almost instantly to text messages.  

Prices in Ontario are stable and just coming off of big increases, so to get it for $16k below where I first saw it in this market seems like a steal to me (will rent for about $950/mo. after I put about $6k into it and has a HOA of $275)...so I feel like I'm getting (for California) good cash flow and I'm guessing $10k of instant equity. 

I figure if I am able to have positive cash flow after accounting for the PMI, once I get 20% equity, I can refinance and I'll have an instant boost to my cash flow (who can complain with that). 

Yea, I'm thinking that probably would have been a better option, but not if it was her first purchase and she was dirt poor, then possibly the $7k instant cash may have been a better option.p.s.

If the first words out of your mouth are "Hi, I'm --- and I'm a Real Estate Agent, I'd like to buy your property" then you will instantly put them on the defensive!