I ended up selling it for a tidy profit even after holding costs but, thats because i bought it so cheap and it was in a great area of Stone Mnt. ..they always say Location , location , location ... and that brings me to my next point ... location ... when buying in a area you do not know ..your taking a chance that the company your dealing with is pulling wool over your eyes .. i would suggest you consider finding someone that can look out for your interests .. a boots on the ground type of guy .. out of stare investing can be very rewarding but there are challenges .. if you would like to talk more to me about how i have helped other investors navigate most of these challenges , just send me a colleague request and ask away ..

I do agree with the bit on reputation/treating people right, the number of contractors that will pull the wool over a home owners eyes is pretty high when quotes can range thousands or dollars even on a small job proced at 4k. 

I have my MLO endorsement and have originated millions in mortgages but even this guy almost pulled the wool over me.  

If you are not that much different than the bank product down the street and have more lax guidelines, you'll be in tall cotton.

I wont show my example, but I can say that they have to be very carefully crafted, very short, absolutely great headline in the letter, minimal salesmanship, and basically provide some important information for owners,, 25% cotton envelope and letter, hand written address,

A fellow investor named Vern Darlington, who will probably comment here eventually, hosts a great (free) meetup at the Cotton Patch in temple.

OU game at the Cotton Bowl. 

Tearing out lawns, golf courses, cotton or hay fields... it's all cheaper. 

It's annoying and somewhat insulting to me that to try and "pull the wool over my eyes" that they are not a broker.  

Noinsulation, rock wool or even newspaper might be in the walls.