I'm pretty set on Vancouver or Burnaby, I just really prefer urban living, and I love being by the ocean for lifestyle as well as health reasons (dry thin air doesn't do my skin or lungs any good).  

Last week, after listening to David Allen's Getting Things Done, I've set up a dry erase calendar, filing system, an inbox and an action bin to get organized and to stay on schedule with things.

It does aim to trigger thinking outside of the box in regards to marketing tactics (for buying as well as selling property) in addition to induce a smile or two.   

I think in a dry climate it wouldn't matter but in a humid climate you would either bring in a lot of moisture in the basement or into the house that then gets conditioned with your AC before drawn into the basement.

I've got several all cash deals I need to make happen on a timeline and I'm having trouble pulling the trigger even though I'm under a strict timeline for an exchange.

Hey friends, I'm fairly new to real estate (still waiting to pull the trigger) and am trying to get the knack for quickly identifying if a property's numbers would make it a good investment.

@Kevin SimmonsEach event of a sale of a piece of real estate triggers a recognition of gain.  

Upon drafting all the paperwork, the sale doesn't commence until the buyer "exercises" the lease option, which triggers a transfer of ownership. 

And as far as jumping on your First Property, First Visit...I advise you to do a cram session on this book by thee Gary Keller, "The Millionaire Real Estate Investor" http://amzn.to/1e5upbdHopefully you've rocked this neigbhorhood with all kinds of analysis before you pull the trigger.  

As for the renovation timing, depending on how much time you have to commit to this, I would spend as much time in planning and getting bids as possible and then pull the trigger and run through the repairs as quickly as possible.