@Brad ChandlerNot adding any revelation here.. but from looking over my wife's shoulder maybe FB has fostered a "mindless"ness that the bulk of the eyeballs just aren't the sellers or have switched mindsets to not be thinking "important financial decision" needs to be made.LOL.  

The only path with these is to maintain month or yearly breakeven-ness...and eventually the equity will increase.Instead of buying 8 units...I should have only bought 4 and put more down.   

For even more accuracy, we choose to only use comps that are 1/3 mile away or less, with sales dates within the last six months.Sometimes, even the street can make a difference in the value of a property.If the only comps you have are on very nice streets, but the house you’re considering is on a very “distressed” street, then you have to reduce the ARV.How much is an appropriate reduction is a judgment call on your part.You’ll want to base that call on how much of a discount will be necessary to entice the final owner/occupant to buy this property over one they can get on the “better” street.If the comparable sale that you are using is too different from the subject property, then it is of little value.If you use it in your sales marketing, you’ll lose credibility with your Investor Buyers.An example of a poor comparable is when your subject property is an old cottage fixer-upper, and you compare it to the sale of a brand new in-fill (an in-fill is a new house built on a vacant lot in an otherwise established neighborhood).Rehab dollars vary according to level and detail of the job – everyone has a different formula.As a wholesaler, we suggest a middle-of-the-road approach for estimating enough rehab dollars to get the subject property to look like the comps.You’ll need to spend more on rehab as the ARV increases.Logically,buyers like more ‘pretty-ness’, higher-end fixtures, cabinets, etc. when they’re paying $200,000 vs. when they’re only paying $100,000 for a house.Buy/Sell/Hold costs are all of the costs associated with:üThe purchase (loan origination fees, title insurance, attorney fees, survey, appraisals, etc);üThe sale (real estate agent commissions, marketing and advertising, closing costs paid by the Seller); and üHolding the property (mortgage interest, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc.).

If the answer is yes, then invest (after you triple check the amazing-ness of the deal).

It requires gumption and stick-to-it-ness.  

It is categorized as retail, I think it is really more of an office type of commercial.....http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/20140012/851-Van-Ness-Ave-San-Francisco-CA/

I just figure they're hiding the loch ness monster and a couple million mosquito eggs underneath, maybe the guy they foreclosed on is under there too, who knows...Is it a terrible idea to run the pump without being able to see the pool?

@Will R. that Century and Van Ness neighborhood is very close to me, the area West of Van Ness is Century Heights in Inglewood (not many multis and sfr's on a hill with airline views of the city), East of Van Ness is Los Angeles city and county. 

For even more accuracy, we choose to only use comps that are 1/3 mile away or less, with sales dates within the last six months.Sometimes, even the street can make a difference in the value of a property.If the only comps you have are on very nice streets, but the house you’re considering is on a very “distressed” street, then you have to reduce the ARV.How much is an appropriate reduction is a judgment call on your part.You’ll want to base that call on how much of a discount will be necessary to entice the final owner/occupant to buy this property over one they can get on the “better” street.If the comparable sale that you are using is too different from the subject property, then it is of little value.If you use it in your sales marketing, you’ll lose credibility with your Investor Buyers.An example of a poor comparable is when your subject property is an old cottage fixer-upper, and you compare it to the sale of a brand new in-fill (an in-fill is a new house built on a vacant lot in an otherwise established neighborhood).Rehab dollars vary according to level and detail of the job – everyone has a different formula.As a wholesaler, we suggest a middle-of-the-road approach for estimating enough rehab dollars to get the subject property to look like the comps.You’ll need to spend more on rehab as the ARV increases.Logically,buyers like more ‘pretty-ness’, higher-end fixtures, cabinets, etc. when they’re paying $200,000 vs. when they’re only paying $100,000 for a house.Buy/Sell/Hold costs are all of the costs associated with:üThe purchase (loan origination fees, title insurance, attorney fees, survey, appraisals, etc);üThe sale (real estate agent commissions, marketing and advertising, closing costs paid by the Seller); and üHolding the property (mortgage interest, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc.).

Certs and perfecting title is a lot of work... and a certain expertise is needed , along with stick to it ness ( which I tend to fad ) and follow through.. interest rates are paid but they are also bid down in many markets.Its just like anything in RE it can be done , it is done , some are wildly successful, and others go half way and never do much..