If so, that is leaving out property taxes, insurance, maintenance fees, capital expenditures, and property management fees, so that $250 dries up pretty quick. 

I’m installing myself as I’ve heard it’s pretty cut and dry.

Also keep in mind a lot of the 07 issues where loss's were taken was the BRRR when refis dried up completely and investors were locked into high rate short term debt.or they used heloc's that then got frozen by their banks and they could not finish the project or count on that money to pay bills. 

Now that you mention the San Diego market, I say again...Keep your powder dry.

I expect REO prices to drop come May (no competition from owner occupants), and buyer demand to dry up in many parts of the country.

Well 70% of ARV minus repairs is for a rehab deal.Rental numbers are more individually designed for your personal investment goals.See a rehab is a very cut and dry affair.

The agent in the past has done quite a lot of REO work (50+listings per month) but that has been really dry this year with only 4-5 listings per month.

I have been busy in school reading and writing papers and that has taken up a [b]lot of my time.

Bandit sign leads have dried up in recent years, and as someone above stated they are a pain to deal with.  

There is no cut-and-dry answer to your question, though.