;) Hi Janet, Are you a hard money lender or a traditional lender?

Kathy, check out Anchor Loans as a comparable. 

If not for you and you prefer the traditional route, I would explore potential "up and coming" markets such as Acworth, Cartersville, and Douglasville, where the price-to-rent ratio is a little more favorable, and growth is apparent.

I have the credit, experience and the knowledge on how to underwrite the deal to show their ROI in this arrangement vs a traditional sale. 

For us in the seller financed note investing world, we are often looking to find value in a deal that fell outside of a traditional banker's lending box. 

The population is officially growing again, and there’s been a lot of investment in infrastructure and development in recent years, which makes it unique compared to some other Midwest markets.One thing to keep in mind, though, is that Detroit is very much a block-by-block city.

@Corey Curtin has been a stellar agent for my clients.I heard things that involve the city like zoning/permits can take a while in Birmingham compared to other AL markets so I'd be cautious of that. 

Over time, I’ve accumulated more cash reserves and don’t need as much flexibility, but I’m actually in the middle of a refinance right now using an interest-only mortgage—because the pricing with the lender and the corresponding ARM is more favorable than a comparable principal-and-interest loan.The key with these alternative or "exotic" mortgage types is that you need to be financially savvy and have a solid plan.

Inconsistent Cash FlowUnlike traditional jobs, real estate doesn’t provide steady paychecks.

Thanks, Bernice One approach is to break it down by looking at similar vacant retail spaces nearby and comparing price per square foot while factoring in potential rental income once occupied.