But, I really thought it was smart in our situation to cut our teeth with some of the renovations that weren't too big to handle. 

I usually buy for 20-30 years so an investor like me is going to be less sensitive.

Do you know how many times it's been like pulling teeth to get a listing agent to show us the property?

I asked them why they sell commercial properties and do not own any commercial themselves and their response was, "Commercial real estate is most sensitive to the economic downturn in the market.

Surge suppressors use the ground wire - so rooms where sensitive / expensive electronics will be installed might benefit from having a grounded circuit. 

If the home is a standard sale in foreclosure it's the same as any other transaction except you may be on a tight time frame to perform due to foreclosure proceedings.If it's a short sale it's a different beast, but sounds like this transaction isn't.Important points would be if you are trying to do subject-to, dealing with elderly, etc in a foreclosure, then sensitivity would be amplified due to their foreclosure status. ( need to be extra careful with disclosures, etc, when dealing with people who could say you took advantage of them. )

I get the sense that our neighbors are generally childless young professionals (like us), retired folks who bought their houses decades ago and are just staying put, and as sensitively as I can put it, some upwardly mobile folks trying to get away from the blighted neighborhoods on our western border.

I cut my teeth selling large ranch and ag lands in the West.. 1k to 50k acre ranchs.. 

. : ) "Sensitive subject, I guess.

They are a small local bank that is very sensitive about their investments.