Could you quickly sell it for $45,000 if you had to unload it fast?

And, if the RE guy flips the property and moves on to the next on, that is better and may serve as a construction company, but the rehab guys usually don't work as often or produce the benefits of a factory assembly line.All said, RE is on the bottom of rungs of the ladder in a way as investors tend to go with RE cycles, seasonal work, inventory fluctuations, it's just never been a steady employer like a drug store or lumber yard or small factory.

So Loc, you might want to see what types of products they deal with, and see if they need help in any type of exit strategy - unloading might be preferable to foreclosing.

My plan was to unload the property before cap gains rates increase.

Unless you have very deep pockets and the locals know you are going to give them multiple deals... they are going to unload marginal deals on you.

There's contractors with stuff to unload.

It's an easy way for the county to unload everything if it sells as one sale.

So he comes back, breaks a window, steals some lumber and cuts the copper lines to the a/c.

Okay you go to college and get a degree and get 100k in debt and get some crappy job loaded with 100k debt you can't unload in BK.

I personally wouldn't buy a lot unless I know I can unload it fast and it has characteristics that would make it move fast (great view,cul-de-sac,nice big lot,etc.)