I did some foolish things when I started and will implement some of yours as I offer a product that is nicer than my competitors.

My bank wouldn't budge on the terms so I moved the deal to a new bank and arch competitor of bank number one and got a new appraisal.

@Scott Johnson, it wouldn't be a HELOC in the sense that you can click a mouse and move the funds over, or swipe a credit card (yes, that exists for HELOCs) for a $300k purchase.It would more be a relationship with a private investor, probably someone who is herself in REI.

Making tons of offers and having 10 other competitors making offers on the same property.

There are very few competitors with you currently.

Hank Paulson is not from Chicago and yet, he was the first to hand GS their first government check and help eliminate GS's biggest competitors such as Bear Stern.

Ultimately, most investors come to a point where they can handle only so many deals . . . who are they going to share their excess leads with -- their competitors or colleagues?

My concern is that competitors and hackers might do this against a legit business or individual.

Here in Denver, hotels have had record revenues each year for a couple years, so their incentive to push out possible competitors is not as strong.

Including what you swiped on credit cards and CC interest payments?