Of course they are REO's or surplus municipal properties and need rehab.

It is not the housing shortage you should be afraid of, it is when the shortage is followed by a surplus that we have a problem. 

You also learn about surplus/tax sales, and other ways to get good deals.

Repairs 763.00 Windows 800.00 Carpet 1,200.00 Garage 110.00 Landscape 650.00 Trees 636.00 Lowe's 2,396.00 Home Depot 2,140.00 Home Emp 304.00 Surplus WH 783.00 Ikea 405.00 Best Buy 732.00 Home Depot 2,448.00 Walmart 181.00 Overstock 160.00 Target 110.00 Subtotal 29,219.00 Holding Costs Duke 9/25-5/9 1,208.00 Water Works 380.00 Cable Wifi 45.00 Simplisafe 175.00 Insurance 679.00 Taxes (prorated) 1,244.00 Subtotal 3,731.00 Misc Alarm system (included in sale) 290.00 Water meter 233.00 Cinci Alarm fee 50.00 Subtotal 573.00 Total Renovation/Holding costs 33,523.00 Total Investment 66,523.00 Net Sale proceeds after commissions, taxes, fees 98,485.32 Paid to seller (separate as concession to new owner for new windows and a few other items) -3,000.00 Paid Home Warr - AHS -435.00 Actual Proceeds 95,050.00 (Minus Investment) -66,523.00 Total Profit 28,527.00

I have heard of people who go after tax surpluses.

It just takes more personal discipline to not spend the build up of cash and put it toward your home loan regularly - once a year or whatever works for you.Mortgage acceleration really depends on you having a surplus at the end of the month or pay period which can either accumulate in a line of credit or some other account you choose.If that's not where you're at, you may want to devote your efforts to a "debt snowball" first to pay down your unsecured debts first (3 to 5 years or more, depending), then go with the mortgage acceleration.Hope this helps ...

I have 5% of my paycheck going into an investment account at fidelity and everytime I have XXX amount of surplus dollars after bills are paid I send this money to my fidelity investment account. 

The surplus funds may, or may not, go to the demo lien. 

And let's face it, people aren't exactly flocking to Watertown, NY because of the surplus of jobs or superior housing market.

Now California has 32 billion surplus budget, not sure if the smaller NoCal communties will get much but they should it appears.