FOCUSRead books on mindset - Start with 'The Compound Effect'Eliminate friendships that normalize mediocrity Become a student of sales and negotiationsI myself applied all these principles when I started, the result?

We normally purchase in what we call fringe areas, places that are commutable to a metro area but not so close that they are congested.

@Przemek Kos In our syndications, our team normally does 1-2% acquisition fees!

Aside from the normal concerns of letting a stranger stay with you… business people are busy people or they’re done with being busy and value their freedom.

Don't waste all your money on normal things. 

To quote carpet you really should just have someone price it and charge that amount.As for holes, in my state nail holes are normal wear and tear, whereas anchors for heavier items like TVs are not.

@Brian DanoYou have to be careful when visiting places like H&R Block, Liberty, etc as they are run as a 'franchise' and normally owned by a CPA or EA who hire those with little experience to help prepare tax returns.You can check out the craigslist hiring section and you will see ads for H&R block hiring and mentioning 'no experience needed'.Below are some tips to find a Local CPA that specializes in real estate1) Attend a Local REIA / Real Estate meetup and see who other investors are using as a CPA2) Network with other investors from your City/State that you find on bigger pockets and see who they use as a CPA3) Look for CPA's with good google/yelp reviews where 'real estate' is mentioned in the review.

Should I have waited to offer or is that normal?

In many cases the homeowners collected the insurance money and did nothing to correct any (usually normal) cracks.  

It's probably normal but I'm waiting and hoping it'll be relatively close.