I have many friends and acquaintances who are fee based planners and frankly even those professionals have a vested interest in selling product.

Back then, the products available required a mechanical bond.

To say that I'm not buying properties to turn around and sell them for a profit would be accurate, although if for some reason I were to ever need them (IE to save up for the 'big kahuna' investment) yielding some marginal profit would be excellent.

I created an Excel spreadsheet before but didn't stick to it probably because it was flawed.

Just wondering, how many RE invetsors have had or are involved in sales of other financial products?

I've read quite a bit, and since recently listened to the pod casts (Excellent!)

any product at HD in this weather?

Welcome, it would be more productive, if more parents started their children out in real estate or construction at early age versus the common theme sports Just my opinion FYI -> I'm guilt of the sports theme also

I prefer old school invoices from Word or Excel.- I want to be able to call my manager and get him/her directly on the phone.

Here is an excellent recent discussion that talks more about foreclosures, REOs, etc., I think it might help answer your questions:http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/41/topics/82129-confusion-about-foreclosed-properties-vs-reo-properties