Hi Ravi - while it'd be helpful to know more, like the others have said, I can tell you a bit about the downtown housing market and if you're looking for something in the greater Hartford, you'll have to give us more detail :) The downtown residential market is at 98% occupied and there's a lot of activity which suggests positive growth and more bodies on the street between the new public transportation system, two university moves into the central business district, the development of Downtown North with the new baseball team...the Yard Goats...please don't hold that against us, and a lot more residential units coming online in the next year - which is actually a positive for those people considering investing in residential because in urban environments like Hartford, residential markets follow an odd trend where the greater the supply of housing, the more greater the demand.

Do you hire a GC and have him go at it?  

I am starting a realtor license course in January so I can go at my own speed and have access to all those great tools.

For my first experience at my first go at this, I don't know how everyone does this with any sanity.

If you're capable of matching or exceeding their marketing efforts, by all means go at it alone.

(The one printed over an old-style sepia tone photo of a little girl on a swing really got my goat.... um, manipulate much?)

I just bought my first list of out-of-state absentee owners from listsource, and I'm actually planning on using yellowletters.com to do my mailing. My list has about 190 names on it, and I just want to know if that is...

the grey doesn't go at all.... a natural light stone back splash with  a sign;e strip pattern. and stainless steel appliances.All of that said find a great interior hard surface decorator and they certainly guide you correctly

@Brent Watson   as mentioned about the CA pre foreclosure laws its the same in OR and WA .. laws came in about 07 08  and it pretty much put those that follow the law out of business I know we stopped.... but many don't care about the laws and just learn a technique and go at it just like the law does not exist.

This will my first go at being a Real Estate Investor so any information would be helpful and if I can help with anything I'd be happy too.