Also, why are they telling you to speak to the REO Department?

Monitor your score and if you've got credit cards/student loans/etc. pay things on time.A few months in advance speak with lenders about pre-approval.Also, if possible, whether through an investor who buys often or through a contractor or RE inspector, do some property walkthroughs and you'll quickly learn what to look out for repair-wise when viewing a property.

And statistically speaking we have been and best I can tell we should be this way going forward.  

So just keep working with individual investors.Remember that while the local expertise and skill in buying and selling homes, negotiating, etc. is hard to replace, the actual license that entitles them to save on commissions is not.

I’ll be speaking with an attorney tomorrow but I feel like this will be a painful lesson learned.  

If anything, from what I understand, there’s even more development taking place in that area as we speak.  

Hi-I just put my third SFH rental under contract and when speaking to an insurance broker he mentioned I may do better switching from individual policies to one commercial policy, especially as I continue to add any other properties to my portfolio.  

I'm awaiting my mtg broker's as we speak . the proforma from the LA had figures at 22% with some pretty optimistic numbers.

YOU are the one who is entitled to the security deposit, as YOU are the one who will have to pay for any damages.

Kinda speaks for itself :) I just need to do a little more research on city's neighborhood since I don't have anyone there.