They are use to helping Dick & Jane Public find their new home and not in-tune with an investor ... most do not invest themselves.However, when you find a good agent from the 20% - frequently s/he will also be an investor - you will want to work with them and treat them well.  

Consulting with an attorney about BK without knowing what the actual judgment order is would be a waste of money, IMO.You don't file BK pre-emptively in a case like this, where a giant money judgment is looming.  

Then you combine it with your risk profile:  a fairly inexperienced low income landlord with 15 units, no prior insurance (giant red flag for every carrier and agent) and a attitude of "show me why I need this/you are trying to rip me off".   

But if you look at counties rather than cities, San Diego is not among the giants.  

They arent buying for appreciation.One way to look at TK is the operators are holding your money for a giant fee! 

It had a basement master (basically a giant living area with fireplace and two closets with a bathroom that could make a great makeshift studio) and then a master bedroom upstairs, with another bedroom that had a hall bathroom right next to it.  

The one guy is a giant and looks like he can change tires without a jack.

.$200,000 can disappear quickly without cash flow if you make bad investing decisions - if you use leverage and some creative financing you should be able to control, buy or option enough real estate to have a great return on your investment.There is a reason why those properties have been on the market for a long period of time; poor condition, poor location and the real and only reason is OVER-PRICED - investors trying to big a giant profit on JUNK real estate.

But what they really do is fill your head with good feelings and excitement, give you nothing, and place a GIANT price tag on their "package they offer".

Right now, we are like a giant ocean liner caught in a maelstrom and members of the crew are each trying to keep the ship afloat, but there is no captain to coordinate their efforts and steer the ship to safe harbor.