My ratio is better now because I bid higher, but only for properties I really want, so i am buying fewer at auction now.

You may be able to negotiate a lower rate for fewer services.

Isn't that dangerous?

Then it is true transactional funding and is relatively inexpensive, because the risk to the lender of the transactional funds is lower, due to the "C" buyer being ready to close immediately.Longer than that, or with fewer assurances, and you are in hard money territory.

If a rehabber overprices a retail house by small amount, fewer people might look at it.

If you're in a nicer area, you will not get 2%, but you will have fewer problems.

The main problem is that this house is located on one of the most dangerous streets on the east coast!

I believe we'll see prices stay the same in the near term (low)... and I think rents will continue to steadily go up over the next 5 years due to a larger pool of renters and fewer buyers.

This is a topic with many opinions, many are just wrong missing the underlying requirements for the different licensing issues related to real estate ventures.Areas where licenses may be or are required include, but may not be limited to, real estate brokerage activities (the facilitation of sales and rentals as an agent), construction and intallation of equipment, financing activities, brokering notes and/or financial obligations, SEC issues with pooling funds, selling interests and dealing with other investors or giving financial advice; banking activities, closing transactions, providing title insurance, surveys and writing legal descriptions, the practice of law and drafting contracts for others, home inspections, appraisals, pest control treatments, maintenance plans, even a mowing service may require a license.First consider why we have licensing issues in the United States, every state has varied requirements, but the underlying issue is pretty simple:To protect the general welfare of the public from unqualified persons providing services or products that may consitute a danger to persons, property or financial interest of commerce.

Maybe not safe and not great schoolsD Very depressed and dangerous (crime).