Can someone send me some referrals in the st. charles, geneva, batavia, north aurora, elgin, west chicago, Illinois area?

Originally posted by @Charles Worth: @Engelo RumoraThats a lot to have in one?

Good story Charles, glad to see you post it here.

Charles and Dale, I agree with what you guys have posted although some of the weaknesses of the system are actually good for people like me.

As Charles sort of suggested, there's probably some sort of economics-based differential equations that could be used to model return vs risk vs time in various investment activities.While it probably wouldn't be useful in real life (not sure you could tune the inputs well-enough to be meaningful), you could probably play around with various inputs to get a feeling for their sensitivities to one another.If I were smarter, I'd probably be able to apply some of the utility modeling work I used to do as a poker player to real estate investing...Which actually reminds me that I've been meaning to start a really geek thread on a related subject...a bit off the topic (or maybe not), but if you've studied card counting in blackjack or were ever a geek poker player, you may be familiar with the Kelly Criterion...I've recently started thinking about whether there is a way to apply the concept to portfolio real estate investing:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_criterion

hi Joshua and Charles,Thanks for warm welcome...I do not have investing experience in RE in USA but do have RE investment success in different country.

Using the hand-written yellow letters in hand-addressed, live stamp envelopes gets me anywhere from 10% to 30%.Charles,I agree with you that the boot camp is not necessary.

Charles Morgan the kitchen is strange indeed.

Originally posted by @Charles Kennedy:@Ross Kerne if you listen to @Brandon Turner all time the time you'd know he hates questions that ask "is this a good deal"... he states he doesn't know everyones market and what the rents/returns/etc. are in someone elses market.

Thanks @Charles McCabe, I might actually be able to make that one happen!