As far as finding buyers, it starts with your sphere of influence.

1) Give them the facts ... numbers and facts are agents' best resource for buyer counseling.2) Explain the tax advantages and fiscal benefits ... according to the National Association of Realtors, the tax advantages and fiscal benefits are clear when looking at owning a home vs. renting.3) Show them interest rate history ... talk to buyers about record low mortgage rates.4) Ask the REAL question ... serious buyers make serious moves.

The borrower cannot suffer from any duress, unconscionable advantage, undue influence or grossly inadequate consideration from the lender.  

There is a lot of information about this in How to Win Friends and Influence People, as well as Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene.

Because they have branding and name recognition and your blinded by dollar signs and influenced by the light shows, music, and voice inflections.

Not only is the general influence bad amongst lousy friends but a Recent study concluded your closest friends and you will all have virtually the same income levels . you must pick people on the same path as you or they WILL drag you down emotionally spiritually and financially 

This will be an influence on the economy.-- The number of people depending upon government assistance.-- The number of people needing local charity assistance.Real Estate-- The real estate market is flooded with “investors” trying to squeak out a tiny profit and get rich quick.-- The real estate market is once again over leveraged - in my opinion. -- Prices are greatly inflated from the huge flood of “investors” competing to make it rich.-- The same euphoric attitude as seen in the early 2000s is once again appearing among “investors”.-- There is a huge amount of uneducated and unskilled people influencing the real estate market.-- The affect of rising interest rates, and the possibility interest rates could go above 10 percent, is being over discounted and ignored.The list goes on.

I say this because I have done it both waysand tearing down is not always the best option.Your decision will be greatly influenced by your location and applicable laws.

@Michael LyonsIf the bank is loaning the money, they will choose the appraiser and yes, the owner can be there but if the owner try and influence the appraiser, it could kill the deal.

I have always been fiscally cautious and responsible, but the promise of big money during the housing bubble two years ago clouded my judgement.