If I was getting a sure thing and even if that sure thing didn't happen I got fat EM it's a no brainer versus a friend who wants the property but needs a bank to approve with all these conditions.

Appreciate a Big Fat Thumbs Up "Vote" for the post!

I didn't have the money of course so I ended up putting it on the back burner.

Jacked my interest rate up for a big fat lender credit to cover closing costs.Got $8,000 in lender credit.Paid $120/month more, for six months, because of that higher interest rate.Did a VA IRRRL right at the six month mark (lurkers: this is ONLY for VA loans... call 1-800-Marines and serve for 4 years if you want this).Closing costs on the refi were about $2500.So I got $8,000, but was out [ $120 * 6 + $2500 = $3220 ]. 

'BOOKMARK' this on your computer.There is an old Spanish saying ""Only the owner of the horse will make the horse fat" ... with this in mind why would you invest in FL and not near you in Ca? 

Sounds like Unit 1 will need about 3k in refreshing.So 120k total for 825 a month.That 825 will cover the cost for the finance, insurance, taxes.But be prepared to write some fat checks.How long you plan on living there?

So, unless you are going "old school" (e.g. wood fired stoves, etc.) an electrical outage will be a serious issue.Other than the "green movement," why not stay with the oil burner, just as another suggestion? 

I also counsel them to show compassion for people with chemical dependencies, even if you disagree with them and think they are a big fat pig.

She would really be resetting her life back to the 20's, and that's tough to do.OTOH, if they have built up a nice fat nest egg and that's getting split, and she has a good paying job that easily qualifies for the new loan, and she's OK with continuing that until she decides what she wants to do with the rest of her life, doing the refi and staying put makes sense.As for your involvement?

The judge throws up the big fat ZERO.