I've since been looking for an appropriately located 4-6 unit building to test our hypotheses.  

Today we did the foundation inspection and found the kitchen and laundry "heaving", the foundation tech. thinks this is most probably due to a leak in the sewer pipes, and he strongly recommends to do a plumbing test prior to move forward with the deal.

@  Br@Brian Risi  don't be afraid of unknown, what's worse that can happen, you lose a few hundred or thousand dollars....you will probably blow that on beer, starbucks, eating out whatever X 10 in a year.i started with about $500, testing signs, mailers, etc, all in all, probably spent over a grand in marketing.

I thought the asking price was the lowest possible and the options I saw do not pass the test as you outlined it so I felt perhaps short sales were different than other deals and I would not be interested if prices did not make sense to me.

If you are intent on painting it, do it on a inconspicious area to test it.

Until that happens, can as many of you as possible post as many of your revised and tested postcard copy, letter copy, email copy, internet ad copy etc. here for all of us to use?

Another important factor to consider is that even as home sales have risen, median home prices have continued to fall nationwide.Steve Bottfeld, a real estate analyst with Marketing Solutions presented at our Real Estate Insider Club of Las Vegas last year and outlined a three point test to gauge the bottom of a real estate market.

I decided to get into Real Estate 3 monthes ago, took my pre-licensure classes and passed the test a week ago.Now I hate to sound ignorant, and simply jumping into the business because it's EASY or hardwork isnt required, because that wouldnt be true, nor would it be for me.

Further, the Internal Revenue Service has also taken the position that if the replacement property is sold immediately after the 1031 exchange transaction then it was not held sufficiently long enough to qualify for 1031 exchange treatment.Little Definitive Authority on Holding PeriodWhile there is little definitive authority on the holding period, in one private letter ruling, the Internal Revenue Service has stated that a minimum holding period of two (2) years would be sufficient to meet the Qualified Use test, and a number of court decisions have been handed down that have also taken the same position (although they have been somewhat more liberal than the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service).Intent to Hold is Important Factor The amount of time you hold title to the property is not the only factor the Internal Revenue Service will use to determine whether you had the intent to hold the property for investment and therefore qualify for 1031 exchange treatment, but it is extremely important.

How're you gonna know until you know for sure after testing it yourself?