I’d look at buy and holds to keep risk lower than say a flip, where a lot more can go wrong faster.4.

Say a 25 yo 1200 sq. ft. house the seller who has responded to a post card mailer says in a phone interview the house is in fair condition.

Successful investor/operators attempting to buy a property might be recognized, say a hotel operator needs to buy out 6 properties before announcing a development.

If the 50/50 arrangement is nothing but a way for the mentor to get more money, and as you say a "deniable

Hopefully someone else can chime in to answer that part of your question.Yeah I would say a getting a contractor out there to see what it would cost is a good first move.

We have walked away from some great properties that got stupid with the bidding and when our number was reached we were out period - never say "A little more and I can make it up". 

Let us say a house is worth 1 million dollars (which is the average in my area) - would someone sign over their home with zero money down just because they don't want to be a landlord.

That's the bigger issue..Wondering too, the reaction of the owner, having made a purchase contract and then seeing it listed on the MLS to flip the contract.....I realize you can disclose that, just wonder about seeing say a $5,000 price increase on a $40K contract he just signed how he's feel about losing more than the usual commission?

Ronald is not real and neither is Coronial and Jack doesn't have a round head.3) on the back say as much as you can about what you offer and use triggers to express the "Why You". here is a great performer. 4) change the picture to less interior design and more story telling. here is an example...5) on the keychain card put I Buy Houses on the keychain plastic...

When the buyer asks "how much we want" I'd probably say "As much as we can get.