If the tile is nice why spend the money to lay hard wood flooring.

That should be public record where you are.My experience with condemned or boarded properties is that the city usually has some sort of agenda in mind for it.Look into it but, it's not something I would spend too much time on.Jim Watkinswww.dfwmentor.com

What did you spend, both money and time, to do it?

I'm basically offering my expertise, but I'd rather not spend over 1 hour typing and proof reading when a 5 minute conversation would do the trick.

as christy suggested, i would certainly spend some time learning more about real estate before you make any sudden moves.

Heck for some illegals, spending time in prison in the states is better than the condition that they came from.

I look forward to spending more time here.

I realized renting wouldn't be viable because I don't have enough money for a down payment on a new place.I guess my main question is.... in a fierce market like SF, would it be possible to upgrade to a new place without spending any of my own money?

Surely you don't think Bush and Co. are going to take up for anyone who's hassling the folks who provide a HUGE CHUNK of merchandise to Wal-Mart (huge Bush supporters), which helps keep our inflation rate down, while at the same time purchasing AN EVEN BIGGER AMOUNT of our debt, which allows us to continue on this drunken spending spree that's been going on for the past five years.

I always ask myself this question...if it's really that easy to make that much money (by doing relatively nothing), then why would they share the secret and not just spend hours every day at home doing it and making even more money for themselves??