Some states are deed with redemption periods.Two good books, "Profit by Investing in Real Estate Liens", by Larry Loftis and "Zero Risk Real Estate", by Chip Cummings

I ended up doing it and it looks great (imperfect texture which looks like smooth walls with hand chipped indentations).

There's some chips in the paint on the walls and some of the blinds are broken, but nothing major so far. 

I also have a little basket in each bathroom with sewing kits, emery boards, shower caps (all of these I get from my travels) plus I bought a big box of "La Fresh travel-lite" individually wrapped makeup remover towelettes online (which I highly recommend- I have lost fewer towels and facecloths to makeup once I started providing these), etc.I provide snacks for people when they arrive, e.g. a couple of granola bars and a couple of bags of salty snacks like pretzels- I go to Costco and see what they have that's individually packaged, has an extended sell-by date (some of the chips have to get used up quicker than I would use them) and then look for something that runs less that 45 cents each. 

I've decided it is time to cash in all my chips in that horrible city and take my risk else where.If you do decide San Bernardino is right for you, the first thing you should do is go over to Bass Pro and pick up a 12" Mag Light and a nice hand gun.

I dont do formica, but I can paint ANY color with an alphalitic hydrocarbon porcelain solid AND color, fixing chips, swells, you name it, in 1 day.

I agree...paint chips and fabric swatches are my guilty pleasures :)

My name is Chip, I am looking to flip properties in the Hattiesburg,Ms area.

It's call Zero Risk Real Estate by Chip Cummings.  

I am not putting my chips on speculation or appreciation.