When the parcel finally closed the competing offer was $1,000 above mine.

That was also priced well above the REO price.My agent feels that we are competing with REOs and therefore the price we can expect is going to be similar to REO prices.

I would love some advice personally from some seasoned real estate game players and also some information on books ,internet articles that may help me.SO FAR BIGGERPOCKET.COM is becoming one of my favorite things to do on the internet.

Also, will I have to "raise the par" as in cosmetics, services, lower rent to compete with these newer apartments?

The fair market value shall be determined : by the finder of fact after the introduction by the parties of : competent evidence of the value.

Ask a local real estate colleague who the players are.

The iPad doesn't replace anything because there's no other device out there that competes with it.

So his issue was that he thought his and my offers could be competing with each other, and since the listing agent showed me his offer there was an ethical issue.

Also alot of RE agents,investors wait till the NOD to get started which means you have to compete with all of them.

I've sold houses on Craigs list and made a killing so it's getting harder for RE to compete with FSBO.