We tell tenants they are responsible for mowing the lawn then we send them a reminder when it gets close to the mowing season, yet we still have problems.I know many property managers that stopped reviewing leases at all and they noticed no discernible difference in the number of lease violations or questions.

You must learn how to discern a good deal. 

For those of you discerning whether investing in real estate is the right thing to do, stop thinking about it.

DISCERNMENT!

I do have a knack for discernment - in other words, the ability to cut through the b.s. and see the facts - whether that's a lying tenant applicant, an overly "optimistic" seller, or a guru with one of their silly "secrets".MikeMike

I don't know, would a buyer of a 100K house be so discerning to require granite countertops and SS appliances???

The way the free market works, is that if 100K house is harder to sell and 500K houses are easier to sell, then every agent who is able to discern what is happening will move to the 500K house territory and the price of the commission for the 100K will go up because of the increased demand for Agents.

There is too much that cannot be discerned through the computer screen.

Another testing idea to discern the group would be was the defect made on purpose?

Not having your financing lined up and looking like a tire kicker likely won't be an issue if you are talking directly with the seller (unless the seller owns a ton of properties, in which case they will be much more discerning of you).