Focusing on being a REALTOR right now with the goal of getting investment properties in the future, particularly condos/cabins in ski towns.  

Use them as a last resort.

As a last resort, I asked the auction house for a copy of the HOA bylaws and she told me that there's a $275 fee for a copy which I think is a bit ridiculous.I'm concerned that if I go forward in purchasing the property, it would be difficult to reach management to get things done that are covered by the HOA fee or worse not be able to rent the unit on day 1.Would you trust the auction house and move forward in this deal or would you run as far away as you can?

Last resort, I sometimes piecemeal, but that's very time-consuming.

Any situation where I feel physically stuck brings on a panic attack: when a ski lift stops and does not immediately start back up, I don't ever step foot in an elevator, even in a stairwell if I try a door and it doesn't open I will start hyperventilating.

The HOA was responsible for the roofs, exterior issues like squirrels creating holes in the logs, snow removal on roadways within the resort, trash collection and trimming trees throughout the resort.

@Will Barnard  @Karen Margrave I just sent over the listing of the bid dog I owned and sold for 5 mil in 04.. no pics but it was a cool home it was river frontage on two sides  3 acre vineyard.. 8600 sq ft.. 5 bd 9 bath 6 car garage big boat launch.. and what was unique about it  it was the only property in all of Oregon that has frontage on two navigable rivers. you land a float plane in front ski fish for salmon and steelhead etc etc. 

Do you think after I burn through my lists Ill have to resort to working the bigger cites that are over 1 hour out or should I focus on building referral business from what I generate off my list and pour my energy into local doorknocking thereafter?

I've been browsing your forum for a little while trying to educate myself.I'm looking at the purchase of a beautiful peice of property being run as a Resort / B&B.

At this point, you will have a realistic idea of what you can pay and how likely he is to accept it (based on what he owes) and can talk to your friend and determine if there is any possibility of working out a deal.If he won't consider an offer in your profitable range, then resorting to buying sub2 and pursuing a lease option is probably working too hard to make a poor deal work (IMHO).