Find the closest houses in your particular area that have sold within the past 3 months preferably.

I just got off the phone with a lady who told me the 3 closest sales to her house, what she could could get for it if she fixed it up (maybe 15k of repairs), and what she was asking, which was less than FMV - repairs.

It also makes life easier.I had an acquaintance approach me to invest in his idea to build a new grocery store in a Colorado town where the closest one was about 20 miles away, one way.

With some aid from a hard money lender for a down payment, what are my chances for qualifying for a 203K loan or an FHA loan?

  ( probably closest to your skill set at this time)And then others who think you should do it that you would be a do gooderwhats your thoughts ? 

Account Closed, sorry I didn't hear that, the batteries went dead dead in my hearing aids. 

I can not move for 2 years due to school.I am considering buying a SFR for tax shelter purposes.The closest areas that have cash flowing SFRs are about 70-100 miles away and these areas are not ideal (Lancaster has a high homeownership rate due to high average income, but also is a high crime city for some reason.

These of course are not "solutions" for the distressed owners, but rather optimistically temporary band aids. 

I've served 26 Months in Iraq attached to a Recon Unit and Have earned the Combat Medical Badge for rendering aid under fire, and the Purple Heart for wounds recieved in action.

Curt,I'm sure many of us who are considering becoming licensed to aid in our investment strategy find your comments helpful.