I'm moving to Palm Springs, CA (I'm a blackjack dealer) and was considering buying a place instead of renting.

@William Allen with Blackjack Real Estate for good wholesaler.

I used to be a stock options trader and a semi-professional Blackjack gambler, so I know the importance of money management and determining your exit points before you even enter the investment.Build a system, back test it, use it and refine it. 

Pretending to have no time is sure disaster no matter whether you invest in RE/stock market or play black jack in Vegas.

I used to gamble and was pretty good at it, especially blackjack  / 21. 

So, while accepting a short sale is indeed in their best interest (sort of like splitting 8's at a blackjack table, you still lose, but it makes for a smaller loss), they're not going to let the former owner be the one to benefit from their loss.If she can afford to make the CURRENT payments on the EXISTING loan, and has enough cash to make up all the back charges, she could "buy" the house from her ex subject to the existing loan.

It's like winning a hand of blackjack. 

I am in the process of completing my California Real Estate License and currently Temp at a REIT (I received my work permit and got a job immediately).I have spent hours crunched over real estate books, newspapers, scurrying the web, text books, podcasts, driving around neighbourhoods, going to open houses etc. and have decided that Real Estate Investing is something I would like to eventually pursue full time.If you've read this far , thank you!

Its like in blackjack, if you have 19, you would never take another hit right?

The best bet for a quick return is at the black jack tables in the Luxor Casino.