i go in cycles...some days are slower (this week it's been raining), so i can check in quite often from my phone or computer..some days it'll be 3 or 4 days til i get to check in bc i'm swamped...i also don't have kids so that helps :)i should also add that i do business with a few people from BP, so out of that relationship, comes the responsiblity to get on BP and commnicate with them...and then since i have the old laptop fired up, i might as well stay on for a few minutes and read the forums!

Frankly, IMO, many Realtors would do much better if they got out from behind the computer screen and went to work.

It depends on how you view it.I agree with J Scott and I am sure others will disagree with me and him as well.I also believe these costs wouldn't be an issue if the are accounted for before the purchase.In other words run the worst case scenario and if that doesn't happen then you are better off than you thought.It also depends on the potential "book of business" you will be getting from the relationship.If this is a big seller who has a large portfolio of properties selling in the millions of dollars than that is different from an investor selling an occasional 50,000 flip.If I am a broker/agent playing in that range I need to make every little cent and as a broker/agent someone cutting me on every deal will be a turn off to do future business with them.I just think you will burn more bridges than you build.For everyone's information the REO companies are some of the nastiest unethical companies out there and treat brokers/agents like slaves.Everything from a 2% co-op to paying off the net to belonging to 10 organizations charging hundreds of dollars each a year to paying for computer platforms,etc.I could go on forever but many seasoned REO brokers have left that side of the business.For the investor the investment makes sense based on the return but not for the broker/agent.

While she is correct that purchasing materials is an indication of an employer/employee relationship, the IRS will look a the entire picture to determine the nature of the relationship, not just who buys the materials.In fact, I have an old BP blog post that details many of the things the IRS will examine to determine employee vs contractor, and while im not an attorney or tax professional,I imagine that if you, by and large, treat the person as contractor and not an employee, just the act of buying materials won't negate that.In fact, that blog post was inspired by Robyn's story...I'll try to dig up that blog post when I get back to a computer...EDIT: Here you go:http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2010/05/26/are-you-sure-your-independent-contractors-really-are/

As far as a kiosk, its looks just like an ATM and is a little computer station where the tenant can fill out rental info, put in payment info, and be up and running.

   @Brian Gibbons I printed it & have it posted above my computer screen so I'll see it each & every morning!!!   

Should I start wholesaling to jumpstart my career in real estate or establish credit by buying a computer (I'm a student)? 

I told him that while the credit report appears authentic almost anyone with a computer could fake a credit report and that the cozy reports are my way of verifying he qualifies for tenancy.My tenant told me she would reimburse the charges and I relayed that to the applicant.Then right before he sent in the application he sent me a link to some reviews of cozy and people saying they reimburse the fees to tenants and highlighted some of them saying "I hope you will consider these reviews for your business?

just haven't been getting along lately... and on their free time its usually computer playing games or drinking which bothers me.I do agree.. that I have it good right now and all, its just aggravating.

KMc,Why compute the return?