Thanks for the warm wishes and the heads up about personal websites.  

If you get a chance  head over to the new members forum and introduce yourself.  

Unfortunately the day we were supposed to fly out to Europe we received word that my wife's mother was in intensive care in Mumbai, so we headed there/here instead and are still here helping her recover.

Some have figures they carry around in their head that they use to gauge their interest in a property.

There are of course the rules and regulations of getting a broker license, off the top of my head I do not recall but I believe it's 2+ years experience and/or a certain number of transactions under your belt.  

She throws back the old tax value number...in my head I think oh boy cause the value is about 55k shy of that number.  

I know you learn a lot from your first deal but I like to browse around BP and read more books before I jump head first into rei.

That said, do you out of courtesy give the tenant a heads up and set an appointment on a specific day, at a specific time and request that the tenant (or at least somebody over the age of eighteen whose name is on the lease) be there in person during the "Maintenance Check",ORdo you just show up unannounced, knock on the door/ring the bell loud enough to be heard and let the tenant let you in and then proceed with the "Maintenance Check",ORshow up unannounced, knock on the door/ring the bell loud enough to be heard and if nobody is home, or nobody answers, let yourself in, announce yourself loudly once inside and once confirmed that nobody is home proceed with the "Maintenance Check"?

You two-toned, zebra headed, slime-coated, pimple-farming, paramecium brain, munching-on-your-own-mucus, suffering from PETER PAN ENVY!!!"

might depend on the state, other circumstances, there are states that have HOA super liens so HOA might get paid first before 2nd or first mortgage even. you might go to your local title company and ask for head counsel to explain the local laws regarding foreclosure sale.