In my experience, trying to buy short sales or at the courthouse can be a beating, especially in a competitive market.As with just about any business, the key is to find a way to connect directly with distressed home sellers where you aren't competing with every other investor or first time home buyer out there.There are a lot of ways to do this - post-it note canvasing, direct mail, TV advertising to zip codes ($25 - $50 per spot), targeted internet marketing, etc.

That's TV, not the real world.

What you see on reality TV might be the most unrealistic example of this business model you could find.

I think in addition to the fact that it's porous, you actually put up a roadblock from buyers with it because they don't recognize it after watching HGTV and other TV shows. 

There are no multiple TV's in each room and people playing Video games all the time?

As for electricity, again...depends on the tenant...if they leave every light on in the house with 10 TV's and multiple video game systems...it could get crazy real fast.

That is seriously funny.I try to get to the TV to watch As Time Goes By.

I know I wouldn't have been able to handle what Jeremy Burgess has gone through with section 8.http://www.urbandetroitonline.com/detroit-real-estate/episode-29-detroit-investor-tv-section-8-no-more/Detroit has truly been a gut wrenching experience for me.

Like a flat screen TV.

I joined a company that provides discounted pricing for TV (cable or satellite), Phone (voip), Internet, Gas, and Electrical service.