@Charles Worth many surveys show a correlation to the equity markets for reits I'd rather invest in blue chips or faangs than REITs That being said I have more than 80% of my net worth in active real estate investments.

I have every thing in place including appraisal, insurance, loan and survey. 

For even more accuracy, we choose to only use comps that are 1/3 mile away or less, with sales dates within the last six months.Sometimes, even the street can make a difference in the value of a property.If the only comps you have are on very nice streets, but the house you’re considering is on a very “distressed” street, then you have to reduce the ARV.How much is an appropriate reduction is a judgment call on your part.You’ll want to base that call on how much of a discount will be necessary to entice the final owner/occupant to buy this property over one they can get on the “better” street.If the comparable sale that you are using is too different from the subject property, then it is of little value.If you use it in your sales marketing, you’ll lose credibility with your Investor Buyers.An example of a poor comparable is when your subject property is an old cottage fixer-upper, and you compare it to the sale of a brand new in-fill (an in-fill is a new house built on a vacant lot in an otherwise established neighborhood).Rehab dollars vary according to level and detail of the job – everyone has a different formula.As a wholesaler, we suggest a middle-of-the-road approach for estimating enough rehab dollars to get the subject property to look like the comps.You’ll need to spend more on rehab as the ARV increases.Logically,buyers like more ‘pretty-ness’, higher-end fixtures, cabinets, etc. when they’re paying $200,000 vs. when they’re only paying $100,000 for a house.Buy/Sell/Hold costs are all of the costs associated with:üThe purchase (loan origination fees, title insurance, attorney fees, survey, appraisals, etc);üThe sale (real estate agent commissions, marketing and advertising, closing costs paid by the Seller); and üHolding the property (mortgage interest, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc.).

Our realtor said that the property survey will definitively show two buildings on the lot which might help our case; but ultimately wouldn't prove that the CH wasn't built illegally. 

Contract with the seller, warranties, proration protections, survey review, encroachment issues, upkeep requirements, ensuring proper adjustments, escrows, post-closing agreements, indemnifications, title issues, zoning or CO issues, contingency drafting, corporate issues... why do you think there are tens of thousands of lawsuits over real property contracts every year?

The Marketwatch survey for 2009 Best cities for business ranked Columbus 19 just below Charlotte, NC I also did a quick blank search on Monster.com for jobs in Columbus and it came back with 2118 which is pretty good for the population in Columbus.That being said I fully agree that there are better cities out there that will cash flow better and I would focus my investments with the largest potential for ROI like anyone else.

To make your money you can improve it (clean it up and have it surveyed... or have title issues resolved during closing) or list it fsbo at a still super low price but more than you paid.Taking advantage of people would look something like.... mailing to that same list and telling them that they are very close to losing the property whether they are or not, lying to them... like telling them that you are offering market value, telling them that you can close in seven days and then stretching it out to 45 days because you don't have the money, offering less to a seller that can't make rational decisions, telling them that they get nothing if it sells at a tax sale when the state has a clear system for overage collection etc...  

Having been in the Land Surveying & Civil Engineering field since 1986, I can tell you a Boundary Survey can be very expensive.

Of course, if buildings are present, you will also want them surveyed for asbestos, lead, mercury, PCBS and such. 

I am not sure what the new loan will look like, i.e. will it be a 40 year loan, etc. the interest rates for the loan were outlined in what I read and will fall between 2% and the fully indexed amortizing original contract rate or the Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey rate for a 30 year fixed rate.