Terri,1-GO to a Local Real Estate Investors Meeting (held monthly IN Your area somewhere close by....do a google search on Your city's name & "REIA"2-ASK ?'

Odds are all stacked in the House's favor on all the other games.There's also blackjack and video poker.

Most auction are held in May.

I appreciated one post I read about not being held back by FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) but I have to do a lot of looking and lot more learning before I leap.Dan

The market was poor back when we moved, so we (luckily) held on to and rented it.

For those that are more active buying and selling, special meetings should be held for any significant matter.

BUT there is at least one company out there that makes (creates) a distinction between the three and have three separate programs to offer: Lease Option for one or two years (no obligation to buy), Lease Purchase (rent for six months before having to close), and Rent-To Own (Tenant pays extra rent that is held until enough Option Consideration is saved up to do one of the other two programs).

A few other thoughts, if you want to get down to the nitty gritty about the bottom line, though some of these stats are relevant whether you sell or keep the prop: -expected appreciation over life of investment -equity bought through mortgage payments -benefit of the interest home mortgage interest deduction in terms of saved (or shielded) current annual income -a 10% misc operating expenses bill tacked on -a 4%-12% vacancy rate average depending on local norms -25% recapture of depreciation -cost of improvements that will likely become necessary if you keep the house for 10 years+ like new roof, new water heater, new carpet/floors, etc...minus the depreciation you can claim for each over time -whether you've held the property for at least a year, which will impact the classification of short-term cap gains taxed at personal income rate, or long-term cap gains currently taxed at 15%.

My ulitimate goal is to have a 6-figure/yr cash-flow, but also have a portfolio of propertied which are held are for long-term wealth creation.

My money is currently held up in another real estate transaction that has gone totally wrong due to negligence on the mortgage side (don't ever use Meridian Mortgage).