Your character, probably due to your parents, got you every bit of success you earned.

(There is a recent surge in hands-on management companies and conscientious landlords who actually want nice properties entering the market.)Why it's different this time is only partially attributable to neighborhood improvement efforts.  

I have come to the conclusion 30 years later that the PG is well intended and it shows some character that the borrower is willing to sign one. .But its pretty much useless in practice.If the deal has gone so far south that you have to sue him on the PG.. your in a world of hurt.. most guys are then cratering totally and you will spend far to much in attorney's fee's trying to get the judgment and then even more trying to collect.. the borrower will start putting assets in every relatives name hide accounts etc. 

-What are your favorite questions to ask during an interview for a new employee (i.e. questions that give you great feedback regarding their character, work ethic, integrity, really test to see if they are a "go-getter," (the way, Brandon, you've tested some applicants by requesting they only fax resumes in), that their personality is a fit for you and your team, etc)? 

My best attribute is to get in front of the homeowner by any means possible.

Use the three C's when lending    Character of borrower,,, Collateral, Capacity of borrower... if those three check out your usually in pretty good shape.there are plenty of rehab loans that work very well.. there are also some that do not go well because of a myriad of reasons but usually the rehab cost more or the borrower just could not execute.Also be for warned FLA foreclosures take much longer than most states so in a default scenario your going to be in the deal for a pretty long time. 

Wanting to learn and being patient are 2 attributes I have seen in successful newcomers. 

I knew it was going to need $ put into it and some weeding out of marginal characters but was surprised when I found out there were 391 police calls there last year and 112 thus far this year.

which part of your personal education would you attribute your success? 

@Sherwin Vargas attendance at our local REIA has been through the roof, literally standing room only, probably at least 50% more than a few months ago and all new faces.I'd had coffee with one new investor who said that at least one guru was coming through town, with a "free" (teaser) seminar in January and the (first) one that costs money in February, so I attributed it to that, but if even more are coming through town then I guess they're going to have to get a bigger room (lol).I did my time in seminars-ville in the mid 2000s so I won't be going to the latest round.