And everything was recorded by hand in the big books.. (  not sure if this is still how they do it on the east coast at the courthouses.then in then 70s courthouses and title companies started to get digitized IE micro fisch.We were still using carbon paper when I started... fax machines were not invented yet.. so we had to make copies then we had NCR paper and that was huge.. then we started faxing but the darn paper the image would fade away over time so that was not really good for legal docs etc.The counties got into the computer age and created their GIS systems  which really helped this started in the 90s with computers entering the homes and work desks.Scan became a thing  then docu sign.. and then counties electronically filing deeds as well.Nothing has changed with Notaries in all my years in the business its still in my mind very weak link to protect real estate transactions.. for a number of reasons that I wont discuss as I don't want to give bad guys any more ammo .

In weak markets it makes more sense to flip houses when cost of new construction is less than market value.

What worries me is the smaller and mid tier cities whose economies are being ravaged and rents are dropping 20 - 30% and problems are not transient but likely systematic and chronic.

Fails to tell the homeowner that they are actively marketing the property for market value and that the investor or real estate broker plans to assign their rights in their contract with the homeowner to another investor/buyer.Fails to tell the homeowner that they intend to make a profit by accomplishing an assignment of the contract.Fails to tell the homeowner when the contract is assigned to a different investor/buyer.Investigated Case ExampleBelow is an example of a case that we investigated where the broker involved in the deal was referred criminally and her real estate license was revoked.The victim had the misfortune of being on her front porch when an “investor” and his real estate partner approached her and told her they used to live in the neighborhood and wanted to move back.They figured out her weaknesses and used them against her.

If it is due to a weak or non existent relationship just don't get involved.

I think you know your logic is not supporting your side of the argument very well and that you're grasping at straws with a very weak logical approach.Originally posted by "TN-Apprentice":Nobody would give one hoot about Zillow if they didn't think it was telling them the value of their house.

Its a preset babysitter for RVR.Now whether the 2% Rule prescribes a RVR ratio that is too conservative for your preferences, is a personal decision on your part, but let's not confuse the 2% Rule's APPARENT weakness with its true built in strength.

The negative extremes of both lopsided strategies would spell disaster.The fact is that some markets have strong cash flow but weak appreciation. 

Rental demand is strong and competition on the landlord side is weak - a lot of properties offered for rent are in poor repair.

Lucky for them they are with Grant right now and not a highly leveraged newbie with a weak balance sheet.