But for most of us mere mortals, a $50k or $150k loss on a property would wreck our finances (if not ruin our lives completely), so we pay a relatively small percentage of that to pass that risk on to an insurance company.I suspect the reason your neurosurgeon friends don't carry insurance is they can afford not to.

@Ray Lai  like many of these bashing agents posts on BP I suspect there is two sides to the story here. asking for a buyers brokers agreement and an up front retainer is fine.. nothing slimy about it or sleazy .. the OP does not have a gun to his head . 

However, I suspect many might take this as an opportunity to "buy the dip" in real estate here as one might say for stocks (I am also an equities investor/trader).

I suspect there's a balance between wanting a hungry/caffeinated agent and a wealthy agent who would rather spend his time on his own deals.  

If we're talking about purchasing a rental property in the area where you already have another one - the answer is also yes.But I suspect you're talking about a new rental property in a new area, or maybe even your very first investment property.

I suspect one you do that, your top markets might look much different.

If there's a waiting list, then I'd suspect that extra money can put you to the front of the line.

I suspect many of the trailers will be there for a while.I would also want to see a listing of the tenants and would start conducting background checks on them to let you know what you are dealing with. 

That option to purchase I suspect. 

There is a lot of commuter rail access here, as well as P&B bus, commuter boats from Hingham and Quincy and the ever popular RT 3.I suspect that most people going into Boston just leave early enough to account for traffic.When you compare Middlesex County to Plymouth County, you'll find far higher prices.In the last 2 weeks, homes sold in Middlesex County averaged $636K while Plymouth County averaged $424K.That tells you that not only will you have a higher acquisition cost for your flips in Middlesex County, you'll have to rehab them to a higher standard of finishes.