We keep seeing short sales and haven't decided how much hassle we're willing to endure (i.e. waiting a year to get an answer might not be for us, if that makes sense).

Your spirit of sharing your experience will be very much appreciated here.I must say your physical endurance is astonishing, and the goal of swimming from Alcatraz to the beach will be quite a fete!

Endure high turnover, vandalism, never finding a PM to serve your property, etc. while the professional tenants in this area take advantage of you.Option #3 - Spend $500 to have the property boarded up/secured.

Similarly, why endure the hassle of maintaining an LLC with your SDIRA when a 401k with checkbook control doesn’t require it?

So in my market Georgia I get contacted by many sellers.Had one tonight that owns 7 properties.Did an analyses for them and the solds were at 19-25 sq ft.They had older houses they put money into built in the 60's and 70's.Sadly they are trying to compete against a wave of recent bank foreclosures built in 2004 and newer.They appreciated my help but said they will wait to find the right buyer who will pay what they have put into the property.They said market is improving.I showed data that SALES are improving but price is flat to declining as banks put more inventory on the market.So the seller will endure 3 more years of pain waiting to get their money back.I venture they will give up somewhere along the way.I told them to try and sell owner finance with some down to offload them having to manage the property and get cash back in the deal.They own free and clear.So this is what I am seeing is get what you can now or accept you will have a headache for years and years to get to a point where you feel you get enough.What have you been seeing from sellers??

There should be some sort of BP award given to anyone that has endured this thread.

Well, one of LA’s most enduring conspiracy theories is that an alliance of companies pushing an “auto-centric future” for Los Angeles schemed to bring down its sprawling rail network.

Someone who has never endured the suck doesn't have the work ethic.  

Zombie-companies — Macy’s, Boeing, Exxon Mobile, Delta Airlines — decay in record numbers while enduring a slow, gruesome death.

You loan paper out that has similar income to the $40k negative they are enduring.