I would like to raise the kids till about high school (roughly 10 years away) and sell for millions and move closer to the coast with my fat chunk of change (subject to the future outlook of the immediate area).

My monthly COL is very low, I own a houseboat with slip fees paid through the year, car paid off and my only expenses are insurance, cell and entertainment.

And . . . . it's not as if the budget is going to be fat and happy on these jobs either - there is always lower hanging fruit than rehabbing houses for investors.

For example, if I ever used Vinyl on project it would sit there like a big fat log.

What couple goes out and separately rents places especially in the age of cell phones.

Each little piece of info is in it's own cell.

Then, build a pergola straight out from the wall to completely cover the entire deck, with two fat supporting columns at the corners.The least expensive way to create interest with the entry leaving the steps as they are, would be to build a "shed" roof sloping toward the front yard, over the landing... maybe use a cool standing-seam roofing material.

These sound like retail, "I'm gonna get fat if you pay me these prices" pricing.

If it is important work, then yes they should have references and experience.They definitely should have cards and contracts, and should have more than one way to get in touch and to keep you informed (office, cell, e-mail, website, fax).

All said and done, the tenant buyers weren't real, the only one he lined up never paid, he vanished, and the houses sat at the PEAK of the market in 2005, and the value dropped... and dropped... and eventually, I lost all my money and couldn't afford the $17K per month in mortgage payments these 5 deals were costing me.My cell phone was ringing literally every 48 seconds with another automated collections call from the mortgage company (who I had 10 loans with!).