ive been doing some research driving around my area and came across this house . its a 3bedroom 2 bath , 2 car garage with a pool . the house was buildt in 1999 . however has been vacant for 2-3 years according to the neighbors . the story goes that an elderly person died in the house . this is fairly common in hernando county florida . but after a walk around the property . the house is in need of mild repairs . a fresh paint and drain of the pool a fresh paint of the house and that's on outside inspection ,and the a/c looks newer the roof looks original so I'm figuring another 10 yrs on the roof   I did see shampoo bottles in the bathroom however I cant go in the house for a more formal inspection ,  comps show the house to be worth around 110,000. 

While it's great to get to know the contractor and to chip in with a mild amount of sweat equity - I can see how easy it would be to use a LOT of time on tasks that don't really affect the bottom line much.  

Needs mild TLC...Maybe $4-5k.

Acquire a small home for cash, possibly a mild fixer upper.  

I live and have rentals in a mild climate area, but I have never seen a vinyl window that looks close to end of life (not including physical damage). 

It'll be an enlightening and possibly mildly traumatizing experience as I learn if I'm willing to expend in the years following.Now I have no idea when I'll be able to get the ball rolling on this.

To say I've been bitten by the real estate investing bug is putting it mildly. 

I am in that business and I really hate it when a property sits on the market because I know I am losing value every day.I expect 2011 to continue to witness a gradual decline in prices, with a possible stabilization in 2012, followed, hopefully, by a mild recovery.

Doing even a mild value add to the multi units can be very profitible. 

The other ones were perhaps mildly harsh, but constructive.