I fixed them, rented them and kept them, slowly graduating up to multi-family dwellings.

If you come to a sticking point in your conversation with a seller don’t sit and dwell on it.

If the utilities are were in your friend's name, what would be the legal ramifications of turning off the utilities other than the possibility of squatters trashing the dwelling?

there's no such thing as a free lunch :D well, I thought i could just jump right in, but apparently there's a lot of prep work.

Jason,In my neck of the woods we are also required to get what is called a dwelling permit.

My background is not in real estate, but I am launching some new web services for neighborhoods and real estate, and I am attempting to learn as much as I can about how the industry works and meet the people involved, and hopefully make some contacts :DWell, enough about me!

Will your lot size accommodate a larger dwelling and will the neighborhood surrounding your home support the higher value that you expend?

johnmichael: So who cares about the strikesjohnmichael: Let's take a look at the numbers for 2004johnmichael: Realtor Sold Homes - 6 Millionjohnmichael: FSBO Homes - 2.7 Millionjohnmichael: Owner Financed Homes - 1.2 Millionjohnmichael: Over 42 Million Homes Listed For Salejohnmichael: Did you just see that last #Dan_Auito: 120 million dwellings in the U.SDan_Auito: 294 MILLION PEOPLEjohnmichael: So you have to ask your self what happen to those homes?

Jon is the cost difference on the vacant dwelling primarily the vandalism protection?

I would like to get started with a du/tri/fourplex in the centeral CA area (fat chance I know), but could deal with any such dwelling anywhere from WA and TX, and possibly select north-eastern states.