Lumber prices have gone up 15% since, which in turn led to a six to ten thousand dollars increase in median housing values.

I should have led with that first.   

I started to get curious about real estate investing and so I started asking questions and doing research, which of course led me to the BP Podcast.

The circumstances that have led to the current situation differ for each of the properties involved.

Renovations and renting rooms is really what led me in the direction of investing (albeit a slow, windy one). 

My research has led me to read stories on here about meeting groups and the general consensus I get is that people there know what they're doing and want to associate with others who do, too.

@John Warren your point is a very good one, and very common, but I'd counter that by saying that if you had used a hard money lender, their analysis of your deal may have led you to realize it wasnt a good deal to begin with.

So after my research, which led me here, I'm very confident and ready to start making moves. 

I worked for a tree trimming company for a little while, which led to me starting my own landscaping company.

I chose what i thought would be a conservative number for 2 main reasons: there are only a few exterior pictures in the listing, which led me to be believe the inside may need work and that the landlord is not on good terms with his/her tenants.