I do recommend that you find a specialty and a core group of investors who buy that specialty and continually feed that type of deal to your group.

We speculate and buy for appreciation in the midst of the landlording business but it is adhering to the core principles of the landlording/cashflow business that allow us to acquire as much as possible and stay afloat while we wait for a market recovery during which to sell and find the next area that is undervalued.Tim

I think if people knew the extent to which (mostly) Democrats were up to their eyeballs in this, Pelosi and the gang would be out like 1994...http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/07/16/Countrywide-Deals-ExposedThe problem this election cycle is the Republicans are mostly RINOs- including McCain, and there's no conservative intellectual core anymore.

Some of the hard core investors may not agree - that is fine.For the first vacation property in each geographical area - I agree with you.Adding a second or third in the same area, however, bares further thought as per some of the posts submitted here.

This is the only compelling reason for a distressed homeowner to agree to a short sale.https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/guides/ssg/annltrs/pdf/2008/0816.pdf

I understand the quality issue.But when 90% of the people that get your cards throw them away I dont see the point.I would rather save money and send out MORE cards, then sturdier cards.I think the message is more important than the method sometimes. if you have a compelling message/call to action, people wont care.Thats my opinion.

One of the contractors who was in to give an estimate mentioned my bed and bathroom doors--standard hollow core doors--and said originally they were ugraded solid panel doors for that house.

If you're using a postcard 15,000 other investors are using, you can pretty well pitch the idea that you're being unique out the window.If you can't write a provocative, compelling postcard of your own, you should find someone who can.Direct mail is a multibillion dollar a year industry, and your postcard has to compete for the attention of the homeowner.

The only compelling reason to keep it is to preserve your credit, but the practical reality is your FICO score will be compromised (not destroyed) for at least two years.Face the music on the tax due for phantom income via 1099, square your shoulders and keep investing--this time with more insight gained from this experience.

So, the reason that the sellers walked off to take another job will have to be compelling to the lender for them to consider a short sale offer.Steve