@Peter Morgan If its just the backsplash I would recommend you go with a bright white 3 x 6 subway tile.

Purchase price: $415,000 Cash invested: $55,000 This is a commercial property off an interstate exit with a Subway for a tenant.

While it's easier to get a good deal (relative to market) on "a" house in the winter (flexible criteria on what the property looks like, etc), it's a lot harder to get "the" house (open floor plan, double oven, 2 blocks from the subway, bla bla bla).

If you were investing in a Subway sandwich franchise, would you want to be the guy scouting for new restaurant locations, or would you want to be the guy making Cold Cut Combos and helping hungry / irate customers? 

The metaphor I like to use is investing in a Subway sandwich franchise. 

Then again...In terms of selection in the condo world, unless your 1BR unit has something special (high floor, unobstructed view of the lake, underground access to the subway, etc.) it's not exactly a desirable unit.

This isn't a 'natural monopoly' like a utility company or subway system, there's no reason NOT to have multiple parallel providers of the good or service.

I was at Subway on Lockbourne yesterday morning and there was a drug deal made in front of my eyes with one of the workers..

To be as efficient as possible, I'll schedule calls for my lunch hour or go to the gym to PT for a call....I also take the metro (subway) into the pentagon each day. 

It's like investing in a Subway sandwich franchise.