Happy and prosperous new year!

Prosperous investing to you.Kudos,Mary

If you are actually "bidding" at the foreclosure auction, you can't control anything the current occupants do.

One big dream is to gain control of my time again and build an income producing properties portfolio!

Again, it is very rare for termites to cause significant structural damage to a house (Despite the pest control companies brochures that often suggest otherwise).

@D B I would look into local ordinances on rent control if they exist in the areas you want to invest in.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Good LuckPaul

We spent the first few months learning everything we could about investing, which is to say we still have a ton of information to learn.We are members of corporate America and have made a decision to take control of our lives.

I wish you the best of luck and a very prosperous 2014.

Check out Prosper or Lending Club for P2P loans.