I will always have a max number plus 500 .. many times everyone is backing into basically the same number and u can win the property by just spending a few hundred more. your not going to turn the deal down over a few hundred right.if its on line auction winning the bid just means your now in contract to buy.. and its a normal escrow after that.you will never work with the bank you work with the auction company.

OR Hire a really experienced Realtor that specializes in Investment Real Estate that has gained valuable contacts over the years that could provide you with access to their resources for free OR Work directly with a Real Estate Investing company with decades of experience that can provide you with access to their contacts for free2) Finding a deal: Here's a few ways to go about that - You or your agent can search the MLS and crunch numbers on property advertised on the retail market and hope to find a deal that all of the other real estate investors in Texas may have missed OR You can attend auctions and try to outbid all the other seasoned investors there only to realize if you win then that means you paid too much OR Have random wholesalers send you the one off deals they get under contract OR spend the time, money, and energy in trying to become a wholesaler yourself OR Work directly with a Real Estate Investing company that can send you the largest source of deeply discounted property sent directly to your inbox in the form of a daily spreadsheet.3) Estimating Rehab, Holding and other Costs: Read FLIP by Rick Villani and Clay Davis and The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs by J Scott.

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Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. 

Our income is sub $60k/year (with the GI Bill income, etc) and we're about a year and a half from being debt free on the cars/cards/etc.   

I  I have a business bank account to separate funds, and thought it would be great to start building my business credit by getting a secured credit card.

Emotionally it's hard to let them "win" - though of course I've won by being rid of them!  

Something that I have used that has given me a competitive advantage in the markets that I buy in has been removing assignment clauses and guaranteeing that I was going to close on the property in order to win over a competitor.

Here are a couple thoughts:1) Lower monthly payment, building equity, possibility of rental income to further decrease your out of pocket expenses sounds like a win. 2) You may have tax planning opportunities depending on how you own the property and how your business is set up.3) Around here, there are a number of office buildings that have various psychologists and counselors in them.

As long as landlords continue to operate out of fear we will never have answers.Document every thing, all conversations, and, as Greg suggests, be prepared for them to play the "emotion" card.