Also, saying that you need to get the concrete done anyway and don't have that kind of cash on hand leads me to believe you might want to think about getting some stronger cash reserves or your own lines of financing before proceeding; I've got credit cards with credit limits double that, where I could self-finance those kinds of repairs if necessary, but that's not a big enough hit that I'd have to worry about taking out loans on paid-for houses. 

As I'm an out of state investor (I live in CA, where investing is rough), I'm looking for fairly minimal repair work to start off with, and would even consider turnkey properties for now, until I can build up a stronger network in the area.  

You can see school ratings in the neighborhoods you are interested in - usually stronger areas keep good ratings over time.

I want to be in a long term hold pattern and I prefer stronger urban areas with lots of jobs to hedge against a correction.

She is an immigrant, and I'm not sure she would have even understood what a broker/buyer agreement is.The second couple were so young, that they got caught up in the emotions of being "interrogated" by the mortgage broker.I can see how I could have had a "stronger relationship" with them, where they would have turned to me, instead of "running away".

My offer was more valuable to the seller because I had no outs.Its more risk to make an offer with no contingencies, but once you've developed the experience and confidence to do just that, it makes your offer significantly stronger and better positions you to get the deal.

I always put 20% down anyways so it actually makes me kinda happy because now I know that there will be less people that will qualify so it'll make my offers stronger.

:roll: But buyers have a much stronger negotiating position in the current market conditions - and I had assumed the same applied in most of the USA now - so I would have thought that both vendors and realtors would have to be a bit more flexible, no?

Another thing that will make your offer stronger is having NO contingencies.

Here's the thing though what a lot of people are betting on: since it did take such a hit, it will come back sooner and stronger than middle america.