There is not secret, you simply have to drive the streets and you will see why one block is worth more than the next.

We all talk about strategies and formulas and secrets for success in this business, when it's really no secret that this is a business built on relationships.

The primary, if not only, reason there has been a brief spike in subsidized demand for housing in recent months (2012), has been the GSE/FHFA endorsed REO-To-Rental plan, and associated securitization conduits, in which large asset managers have been encouraged to take advantage of government funded, risk-free financing (and entirely bypassing banks who have given up on loan origination due to legacy liability issues which have every bank tied up in litigation from now until Feddom come - just see today's Bank of America results) and purchase foreclosed properties in bulk, with the intention of converting them into rental properties.http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-10-17/och-ziff-calls-top-reo-rental-exit-landlord-businessIt is no secret that in addition to the well-known phenomenon of "foreclosure stuffing", one of the primary drivers of the artificial housing "recovery" has been the surge of hedge funds and asset managers into purchases of rental units courtesy of near-zero cost REO-to-rent federal lending facilities, which have taken out distressed inventory from the market in hopes of converting it into rental.

The GC may go after the rest of the contingency because of the change.Last word of advice, I think you should plan with a contingency with your partner, but also have a 'secret' contingency in your model.

i will grab it and post it tomorrow, but I can assure you that there are no secret words in it.

Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my success ~ tenacity." ~ Louis Pasteur

Bandit signs are tough to use because there are ordinances against them in many locations, but they can be very effective and inexpensive.You'll soon find the dirty little secret of this real estate investing business.

Also what would be some key percentages to shoot for when investing in flipper homes, is there a secret formula that helps keep one out of trouble?

There are unethical people all around us, just be thankful that they shared their little secret with you. 

All that being said I have come in contact with someone here on BP who claims that I can learn all the secrets to smart RE investing through a paid program.