I was reading in a book that there is always a good time to find value by improving a property and buying under market value.

But it certainly improves your prospects over a high school diploma.Another twist to college is grades.

Thank God for YouTube tutorials and BP!

I put my money into rehab and improvements instead of a down payment.

I will be happy when the bubble bursts, schools are forced to improve education or die out, and schooling becomes affordable for the average person once again or whatever replaces the modern day college institution.

I think it is a wonderful idea, as the properties are being improved it not only helps the town look good, everyone's values should creep up and therefore the cities and counties will ultimately receive more in property taxes.

If it's an investment property & you want to make it really interesting....separate the land & home @ the time of purchase.Own the land in another entity (or by your kids)now you lease it back....you get the depreciation of the 'improvement' (home) & you get to take the land lease deduction, esp worth it if the land is a significant $ value as per the assessor.Around here we found land values can be high because of the larger tracts of land.

I would fix or improve something and ask for her imput in order to show her the value of you as a landlord.

How can we structure an open ended escrow that places the funds with a third party and allows me to do the improvements and address the deferred maintenance?

Since I couldn't move in before it was repaired, it sat unoccupied while I made repairs as well as all of the improvements I had planned on making.