As of that time, my plan is to maintain my job as a construction worker for consistent revenue (have a family) and work real estate with most of my extra time (M-F late afternoon and evenings, Sat-Sun all day) While I will be doing real estate "part time" I will be able to put in close to 40 hrs/week.Once I am able to establish a base and feel comfortable in my earnings I will drop the construction and go full time.

I'd go to a REI meeting and get some referrals (don't do what I did which was interview every CPA in town until you find one - this took f-o-r-e-v-e-r and I ended up with the CPA most REI guys and attys. use).

After first-last-security deposit is paid, he and his family are moving in, my new best buddy has his house rented, and I'm making $200 a month until they qualify for their loan in about a year or so, at which point I get the difference between what I've negotiated my seller down to, and what my buyers have already agreed to pay.I go out to my car to get my paper-work, and find that I have several copies of contracts for cash-offers, but none for lease-options....are you @#$%ing kidding me?

Looking for suggestions on what to look f?

Good call @jscott (does anyone else have issues @-ing someone?).

Pay one down fast, till it is F and C or nearly so, refinance and get more.

Heating system is probably gas, so there might be a pilot there too, and you have to see what the thermostat is set to (set it somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees F when nobody is living there).

That is, can you ask some questions and identify whether a person is going to be in your category of motivated seller for whom you can solve a pressing problem, and if they don't fit categories A, B, C, D, E, F or G you know you probably need to move on?

To me they are no different from the pissed off people who call from my absentee marketing: " who told you my f@#*ing house is for sale?

My F/T job is "Mom" but I also have background in commercial property management/property accounting and have a California Real Estate broker license (Realtor with MLS access) which has helped be tremendously in being able to evaluate properties before making offers.