Joe,Everyone is different.You have to define your goals.What kind of annual return do you want 6,7,8 %You said conservative.Do you want to own local and do your own management or hire a company or do you want out of state where you might can land a better cash return??

Brian Hoyt please define screed for those of us unaware...thank you!

“wholesaling” watched lots of seminars for how to be wholesaler and associated your perspective strictly with the spectrum of wholesaler.When in reality better approach could have been associating your mind with spectrum of simply being “real estate investor” and leveraging what Rick defines as...

The value of that consideration can be determined legally and can be defined as being preditory or at arm's length in good faith, and to avoid the brain damage of seeking that true option price valuation for such a small transaction, you should stay close to no more than 10% which is customary.

I also feel that only you can define what that success is.My real estate investing has always been a part-time activity but has grown into something that could provide a good income in retirement.

So, submit a contract with a reasonable closing date (perhaps 60-120 days out), and if the bank can't get their act together in that time period, you can legally and ethically back out of the deal, as you have fulfilled your side of the agreement.That said, I tend to write all my short sale offers with due diligence periods defined as, "Shall start upon binding agreement (when the seller signs the contract) and continue through 10 days past bank approval."

Just remember that what you do for the next 6 months or so does not by any means define what you will do for the rest of your life.

So, many banks are perfectly clear that they don't want to see all the offers that the seller receives, they just want to see ONE offer.Now, banks never define what "best" means.

James Park, define conventional investing.

The mortgage, as all are, is defined by the property which secures it, if the property is defined as residential than this law applies.