But, then again, it seems some people would prefer to spend more taxpayer money killing than healing...to each his own...

A decade ago, a good business plan, preferably technology based, would have gotten you more money than you could spend.

Determine how much the house is worth to you as an investor, and offer no more than that amount (preferably less).In many cases, that will put your offer much lower than the MLS price, in which case it's up to you whether you want to submit it or not, but there's no reason to look at the MLS price first, and make your bid based on that.

If a few of you don't mind sharing, How do you (or your CPA) prefer to setup Quickbooks for rehabs.

"It's kind of compounding the problem, I think." . . .The government's TARP purchases of preferred shares gave some banks a thicker capital cushion -- if only fleetingly -- which regulators hoped they would use to make more loans.

I've been running numbers, and if I can get something in the nicer area for $80k that rents for $1200 ... preferably newer construction to keep capital costs down.

Preferably under $130k.

I would probably switch agents at this point but I have been with this person for months now and prefer to dictate the course rather than try to find a new person.

Previous years have included all-expense-paid helicopter rides, wine tasting, horseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert in the Bahamas for more than 1,000 employees and guests.

I thought he suggested that his active strategies were a preferable form of investing, but I now see that he didn't say that at all.