I find myself just asking for the key code so i can view properties on my own time and leave them out of doing nothing more than opening a door for me.I have met very few realtors that are really good and there value comes form a vast knoweldge of a market or area as well as really good contacts or access to potential deals before they hit the market. these people are very hard to find.

I'll take $25-$50 non-refundable fee for checking credit, and leave it at that...Thoughts??

but perhaps you could do the common areas with new molding and leave the bedrooms as is.

Now, if you're sending in $140K and getting the $30K rehab escrow back, that leaves $110.

It is his way of dealing with the idea that he has to leave equity in a rental so the numbers work out as he needs them.John Corey

Folks stealing for the copper or tenants leaving with an extra item in their stuff.He has had problems before with copper being stripped in places he was buying (REOs).

I have rented before and I can not wait to leave if some item is a regular annoyance.

That leaves a ton of room for mistakes, market corrections, etc. as well as more room to add debt financing and other higher holding cost factors.In todays tighter rehab spread market (at least here in CA) a good deal is at 75% and I have even done them as high as 80% but only when I was 100% confident of a first week full price offer on the re-sell, and the rehab was very light and very quick.Example, late last year, I paid $305k for a property that took me only $8k to rehab and it only took 10 days.

It's fun to pretend that things are going up, up, up and the sun will always shine.

Sounds like some court time is definitely in the works, although I wonder if not doing your due diligence leaves you completely liable for your loss.