Originally posted by Nicolas Dumm:That was my thought i just wanted to have someone else with more experience chime in, I'm wondering if these lovely state employees avoid the poorer areas of the towns, or might be the landlords just don't care or have the moneyin Chicago this question usually means "is heat included.... in the rent", typical for condo business when the whole building is on 1 or 2 boilers powered by main gas line ...gas/water/heat included in rent (included in HOA as well). if not ...many stay away from those units ...

@Nicolas GonzalezThank you very much for the welcome to BP AND WS!

Thanks Derek and Nicolas.

We don't take lightly to agents who wine about 5% commission, or aren't willing to work for the listing, so ultimately, we have the power to switch agents any time we want to.If you become an REO agent, be prepared to work, and sometimes for a little commission (we pay $2500 or 6%, whichever is greater from $1-$250K, then 5% after that).

You know you're a real estate investor when an attractive young woman invites you to her house at 9 p.m. to "drink some wine" and you turn her down because you want to scout property early the following morning....

But, if you make $100K a year, and blow every last penny on wine, women and song, they your mom and dad could give you a $5000 gift, which you turn around and put into your IRA.But, that has nothing to do with their contribution limit.

You can even get them at some Jewels. 5-7 bucks which is nothing for wine.

Radical is right.It is an interesting enough idea to sit under a big oak tree and ponder on a spring day while sipping from a jug of wine.

So it really comes down to everyone getting back to the fundamentals that made it all great to start with and quit wining about it.

Previous years have included all-expense-paid helicopter rides, wine tasting, horseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert in the Bahamas for more than 1,000 employees and guests.