Interesting observations.Strategy-wise, it's good to ponder these predictions.Just seems weird to me from personal observations that:Some areas I drive have pretty much 100% occupancy.Some areas I drive have pretty much half the houses boarded up, yet very few of these are actually on the MLS.One realtor told me that while some more well-to-do areas have recovered, other poorer areas have not since those were where many of the "no-income check, take-all-you-want" mortgages were handed out 8 or so years ago.

Here are the potential pitfalls and solutions I'm pondering so far.

We are pondering furnishing and renting vs traditional and 12-month leases.

@Krystle LittleI pondered this same question.

So I have a quick question that has been pondering in my mind and I have not had a conversation with anyone about it yet.Say you find a 6 unit (or more) property and have 4 partners that have equal splits (25%/piece) and put up the same amount of capital to purchase a deal.

A couple ideas to help you from being screwed along with a couple facts to ponder:1. most are operating illegally as brokers2. most have no license3. most have no insurance4. many come up with BOGUS ARV5. you have no to little recourse if they are dishonest6. make them provide comps7. make them provide written bids from licensed contractors8. make them PROVE they have ownership in the property9.

was pondering in my mind as well.

I am kind of pondering whether to do VM or direct to cell phone via Google Voice (I'll take suggestions on another service like Cricket) and also whether to have a 1800 number or local number. 

Maybe that's oversimplifying it but the two issues you seem to be pondering are those.

What should I be considering when pondering who should take out the car loan and how this will affect my ability to take out an investment or FHA loan in the near future?