Jack the Hammer, Stalonie & Company Dewy, Chetum & Howe Construction LOL, just kidding Jamie, good luck with finding a good one in Chicagoland!

(I know this strategy would not be that simple but could be a very feasible strategy if I hammered out the complexities)I would like to pose an open ended question of sorts:With $300,000 in equity and really just getting started, what real estate investment strategy would you pursue?

@Lucas Hammer, I get it.  

We have a builders surplus here that is probably similar to the home emporium you mentioned; commercials feature a guy yelling about how good their selection and prices are as he smashes a window with a hammer...

Then when the seller is invested in the deal use inspections or something else to hammer the down on price after the fact.In a strong sellers market you have to employ this sometimes.

We started to hammer out terms on doing a deal, but his numbers seemed off. 

Not wanting to pickup a hammer and saying their time is more valuable looking for "deals".

(whether it makes more sense to him to figure it as an hourly rate for now or a bottom line dollar amount )Your time should never be free whether swinging a hammer or pushing a pencil.

Jack hammers?

WE got HAMMERED in 08 to 2010 when refi's died... even with my borrowers approved banks just stopped loaning.. any of the older veterans on this site will remember all the newbies that just started investing in the last 5 to 7 years will not have a clue  LOL  IE they did not live through it... things look good now and for the foreseeable future though