Summary of my project: Upgraded old electrical systemComplete kitchen remodel (including soapstone countertops, copper farm sink, stainless appliances)Complete bath remodel (two)Removed walls on stairway, so now open stairwell with new newels, ballisters, etc.All new windows, doors and door hardwareAdded/replaced all molding (crown/baseboards/door/window etc.)Replaced all lights/outlets/switchesRefinished all floors (wood)Replaced all metal radiator covers with custom wood covers (turned many into great little windowseats)And finally (of course) every single paintable surface has been painted!

Today is my first day and I found wealth of information on REO's, that's just awesome.I liked some of the comments made about not being emotinally attached to the properties and would definitely contribute to my metality of looking at buying real estate, not as an investment alone but as a business.

Also scrap metal HMS1&2 and rails and cement are great trades right now.

I put metal carpet trim over the doorways and nailed it down to hold the edges firmly in place.

Cheap and easy, use the pressed wood cheap stuff to save 50 pct. dunno whats wrong with your ceiling that you want it torn out, but theres cardboard, metal, and textured ceiling tile looking wallpaper alternatives to simply cover the flaws. 15+ cents a sf for textured ceiling tile wallpaper DIY, .50 to 1 an sf for armstrong cardboard diy, up to $50 an sf not installed for copper tiles.

In a real crisis a loaf of bread is worth more than any precious metal because, after all, you can’t eat gold. 8)

Take it to a metal recycling place.

I also thing owning physical precious metals is a good investment long term.

Thanks Mike, I took a look, Tiny Texas designs remind me of the old Frontierland at Disneyland, a real wild west feel with the corrugated metal roofs and the interiors.

That does not sound ready to crash to me, based on historical patterns for the yellow metal.