He has never initiated anything that was bipartisan, and never been involved with something that was controversial.

My background is not in real estate, but I am launching some new web services for neighborhoods and real estate, and I am attempting to learn as much as I can about how the industry works and meet the people involved, and hopefully make some contacts :DWell, enough about me!

On occasion they will release an offering but, for the most part there is usually a V.P. or some other executive involved."

I have always wanted to have a strong buy and hold portfolio I just don't know how much more risk will be involved.

Remember to factor in interest cost, your time involved, and overages.

How long have you been involved with real estate and whats your assumption as to what the housing market will be in the future (in general)?

You should also get seriously involved in your local REIA.

Most involve little "fibs" on their balance sheet.

What type of real estate challenges are you planning to get involved in?

You could talk to the agent and ask him to let you be more involved in the process and help him out, or you can track down the owner, get his permission to work with the bank, and try to do the short sale yourself (the agent will still get his commission from the sale).If either of these options don't work, then all you've got left is the auction or the REO route.