Since there is no earnest money per se involved in our contract with the investor, there is some gray area.That said, in the two years that I've been working for New Western, it has always been our position to give the investor a choice after our 14-day window has expired.

I am thinking about purchasing a property in SE Michigan (Detroit, Ypsilanti and surroundings) this winter, which will be my primary residence for the time-being (2-2.5 years) and then sell it or rent it out.

Hi Shari,SE Iowa escrow, located in Burlington, covers title and abstract work for all of Des Moines county.

RISK per se is not entered into accounting books (just for clarity here). 

But they are spaced out in location and time, so it doesn't appear to be a crime-ridden hood per se.   

(per se)..  

Consequently, I am very interested in finding ranches primarily in the Southern MO, SE Kansas, and NW Oklahoma areas.

While my first preference would be a duplex (so I can learn how to landlord), I hardly find 5 duplexes on the MLS in the entire DC, Maryland, Virginia area (excluding SE D.C.).Are duplexes not usually listed on the MLS?

Check out the Milwaukee REIA and the AASEW (Apartment Association of SE WI) if you are looking to network with locals who are already doing what you want to be doing. 

I currently invest in the city of Detroit, and other parts of SE Michigan.