(DO Ask for receipts if it's for material deposits.)Share competing bid information and "bid shop".Encourage bidders to get into a bidding war.Try to low-ball contractors.....they will try to cut corners or make it up with change orders a lot of times.And finally, DON'T assume that "All Contractors are Crooks" or that "All Contractors Will Rip You Off".  

On the other hand, purchase prices at these sales can be very low.

I own quite a few turn of the century multi-families up in Everett and yea, your 5% maintenance/capex/vacancy is low, especially if you don't plan on doing the work yourself.

Originally posted by Account Closed:@Adam Craig Most ask for the best and final offer because your offer is low.

If you could strategize your plan of action moving forward and wanted to return the highest ROI possible then one could encapsulate different markets and buy at lows, sell at highs then take profits to put into a lower priced rental that returns passive income with not much appreciation. 

The first one is all cash and you expect them to NOT take that offer because it is too low a price.

This might not be typical, since I bought at the low point of the market and now it's fully recovered.https://www.biggerpockets.com/calculators/shared/4...

I think I'm mainly interested in purchasing properties on the low and then renting them, but I'm sure that interest will evolve the more I learn.

All major cities in Texas see highest appreciation ever in last few years... still prices are very low compare to coasts.

Your interest rate seems low for a commercial loan.