backtrack 6 months - I had taken about 20 months out of the professional world to help out my family, and as you can imagine, taken a financial punch to the nose.  

I know I will have to go to court and may have to pay through the nose, but if he is dealing and wants a clean record, would he risk all of this, given I am an owner occupier?

I have a simple question... and encouragement for us all.After you make it big, and you are looking back at all those newbie investors, will you snub them--sticking your nose in the air at the real estate investing challenged among BP members, or will you extend your hand of success to give someone else a leg up?

I read something on Friday about the Green movement taking a nose dive - but I do not know if I could find the article again.I do not speak for all - of course - but most rehabbers and flippers want to produce the best product for the lowest possible cost.

Realize the opportunities that are floating around out there, likely right under your nose, waiting to be exploited by whoever wants them badly enough.

@Kim Knaust @Ron Daugherty has it on the nose!

Plus, you are learning skills and knowledge you will use to find the next dirty hands deal, and snatch it right out from under the upturned snob noses of your "competition."

Extremely unlikely to find acceptable tenants to live in those types of neighborhoods.I think you hit it on the nose with some of the neighborhood.

In the basement I used my nose and sniffed along the wall - marked several areas and removed the drywall in those sections.

You would basically have to install a bull nose on every step, and it's prone to getting damaged, falling off, etc.