@Dev Horn Also worth the note that walmart operates on extreamly slim profit margins.

It is much more difficult to get a mortgage these days, so the chance of another crash is slim (in my opinion).Even with prices going crazy like they are, houses are still a lot cheaper than they were 10-15 years ago.

I work full time as a contractor but have been using every bit of free time I have digging into research from this website, as well as many others (including 123..Flip) to prepare myself to dive into the real estate investment arena.I recently purchased, renovated, and put my first home up for sale in Petworth, D.C. and, while my ROI potential is slim, I learned a ton from gutting the home and getting a feel for what I'm going to be dealing with in the area.I currently live downtown with my Uncle and, on top of pursuing several goals, am looking to find a good property within the city that I can fix up to live in/rent out the rest.My goals are:1.)

The odds of them accepting your first offer are slim and none, so you wouldn't be wasting peoples times by putting properties in contract without buying.

since they are on the MLS, doesn't the agent commission eat into the maybe slim profit already?  

Those margin are VERY slim.

Worst case is very slim but even it it were to cut jobs by 20%, wouldn't that still wreck the market there?

Tenants can leave any day they want and my chance of collecting anything is slim to none.

Although the depressed economy is expected to pick up in 3+ years, we need to slim down, sell off our holdings (6 properties are for sale) and/or creatively repurpose them.  

If you are asking for 100%, and you are new you have very slim chance.Joe Gore