I am working on purchasing a short sale pool of 5 properties in Baltimore City.

If you are looking for deals in the greater Montreal, get in touch with @Olivier LePage above, as his team is 100% committed to finding off-market deals, and as you know, this is where the money is in the small plex market.If you are looking for syndication type investment (where the pool of money from different investors will buy a property valued in the $1-3 million valuations in the Montreal area), where your capital will earn a good return on investment, I can connect you to some people I know in case you want to go that way.

If it is a master planned community with a large common areas (perhaps a pool) and extensive landscaping could also be in that category.   

They want $375k, which is laughable, as a recent comp with the sq. footage fixed up and with a pool is like 425k..I offered $200k, quick close as is, but with inspection contingency... agent responds that they owe more than that, no point in countering. 

He told me that we can't do that and that it is a partnership.In looking at the IRS definitions it states:PartnershipA partnership is the relationship between two or more persons who join to carry on a trade or business, with each person contributing money, property, labor, or skill and each expecting to share in the profits and losses of the business whether or not a formal partnership agreement is made.The term "partnership" includes a limited partnership, syndicate, group, pool, joint venture, or other unincorporated organization, through or by which any business, financial operation, or venture is carried on, that is not, within the meaning of the regulations under section 7701, a corporation, trust, estate, or sole proprietorship.A joint undertaking merely to share expenses is not a partnership.

Definitely better tenant pool. 

When the crap hits the fan, pooling of money for deals will absolutely function like a pyramid scheme for some unscrupulous operators...they will rob from Peter to pay Paul, many times without bad intentions.It also takes good internal record keeping to keep from commingling funds.

If you're already in the area then you will know what the tenant selection pool is like, that area has a higher crime rate and transients around a fair bit, if that doesn't matter to you, make sure you're getting a good deal there. 

You build a Buyer pool relatively quickly, and the cool thing is that you aren't begging them for business, but rather THEY are coming to YOU to help them.Keller WIlliams has a great training program called IGNITE, that helps you focus on hitting the ground running (thus the obvious title). 

- central location - Sunny days- No natural disasters or man-made for that matter- great public transportation - revitalization of Downtown and a burgeoning Arts District- terrific Airport- excellent health care options- moreIts a sellers market everywhere.