We helped them with necessities and moved them into another one of our units.

As these REO's become your areas "comps" that will by necessity of averages lower the home prices!!!!!!!!

What type of contract do you think would work better- A standard contract promulgated by say the Texas Real Estate Commissionor- A dumbed down contract that gets to the necessities/basicsI see benefits for both sides.On a standard contract the seller may feel more confident that you are using a "good" contract.

Any advice on the necessity of this license and/or thoughts on the grey line between homeowner and speculator?

If you live in a part of the country that doesn't cash flow it's almost a necessity.

I would like to point out that a $200 or even $400 differecne is not much in my neck of the woods, however, when I take issue is when a buyer comes in with an agent who has a necessity to get creative to get them into a home such as higher contract purchase price with a substantial amount back in seller concessions.

I bought my first property (a 1/1 condo in LB) at the height of the market in 2008 and ended up turning it into a vacation rental out of sheer necessity.

You see, it's not the amount that counts; it's the plan that counts.Make rest a necessity, not an objective.

So maybe some things that seem to work in the USA don't work as well in Europe.If there is lots of competition for the purchase of a specific property, that will be a case where many offers lead to a higher sales price - this is just part of the fundamentals of supply and demand, with high demand bringing a high price.Starting with a property in need of extensive repairs that you purchase for a lower price becomes a necessity then.

As for savings even with a full time job making $12/hr and living in the cheapest 2 bdrm apt. i can find (I have a wife and son) i barely am able to afford bills and food/necessities.