1st, my head is spinning with an AP of $500k on a house less than 1000 sf...and a beater at that.  

Both books really helped me wrap my head around real estate investing and answered a lot of my questions! 

Originally posted by @David Doyle:Here' s where Im going with this John,, .I dont want to put this deal together unless my seller is likely to get his loan for a new home and my tentant buyer can get financed at the end of a 18 to 24 month option period.That sounds like a solid foundation upon which one can build a lease option assignment business.No one is holding a gun to the sellers head.  

All of these properties will be headed to the block within 30 daysSo far every mortgage pre-foreclosure I have approached, that are willing to sell, have been underwater on their mortgage "they owe more than the property is worth".The only out for these home owners on selling their home would be a short-sale.  

I'm actually heading out to look at the property right now, just give it a quick scope, check out the neighborhood, etc.If all looks good, I'm going to put in an offer and see if they'd be willing to go down that much.

KyleWelcome to BP Kyle,Great choice of markets and you have a head start as you come from the area.Columbus has lots going for it.

Andrew Fox thanks for that heads up.

There are a few larger tests, 50/100 questions, I don't remember specifically off the top of my head because I haven't made it to one yet, but you can pretty much go at your own pace as long as you finish in 6 months.

In 2003 I made a market offer on a Diamond Head condo. 

As a new person, the idea of marketing was in my head as something the agent's take care of.