@Chris SchoonhovenIt is a common and mistaken perception that self-directed IRA custodians provide compliance oversight.  

Hi, very perceptive Mitch!

My perception (probably misguided) is that a lot of Baltimore is war-zone like parts of DC...

It has to do with a combination of 1) each loan, or even property on a package loan requires a certain amount of work regardless of size, which makes small loans burdensome and 2) the perception that cheap properties are in rough areas or rough shape, which many banks consider risky.

Lots of people have the perception that it's a "buyer's" market or they can steal a REO.

But when I started this company my whole goal was to change this perception and be the best in this business.Nick Vertucci    

I honestly don’t know but it’s been my perception lately that users is growing much faster than units.

The savoryness of the activity and the perception of the character is based on personal opinion.

This is a great response..you have a very smart and perceptive wife J Scott if you dont mind me saying so.

@Katie Douglas  wow great post and very true on virtually every point you make.whether its BP or TV gurus  the perception that you can just pay for a course or listen to pod cast and read BP and somehow be successful in RE is really pretty silly and not realistic. the fact is this is an industry... and many if not most people need to pay their dues and work there way up.. there is some perception here that this is like sprinkling water on your new seeds and it germinates and grows to a 10 foot sunflower in 3 short months.. all with no money no credit and no experience or skills.when in fact to succeed in this business you need if not all of those a combination of them.You can definitely read BP and listen to pod cast and learn how others have done it but as you state its antidotal information at best.. and at worst some of the information is not relative in many markets and flat won't work.