Assuming you are a major city in N CA there will be regular meetings.

There just are not that many buyers so you have long sales times or major price swings.Holding as a rental is not going to fix the issue.

Short answer is, "Yes".As others have said, the major impact has been in the "Sub-Prime" sector, but it isn't limited to that.

When i said start small I meant finding a property where I know would not need any major structural work and just cosmetics like new paint,landscaping, maybe new windows, roof.

Hello everyone, I’m very interested in getting into the real estate investing field, so all I’ve been doing lately is acquiring some basic creative purchasing and financing tactics I could use to help out motivated sellers and myself, it’s a true win/win.So my questions are:1- I know this question depends on the seller’s needs and my financial ability, but under what perfect conditions should I try to utilize each creative tactic (subject-to, lease options, contract of deed, straight options, and owner financing)2- What contracts I must use and have signed when utilizing each creative tactic (subject-to, lease options, contract of deeds, straight options, and owner financing)3- Once the appropriate contracts are used/signed for each tactic, what are the following steps I must take; now I’m not talking about the complete a-z steps.

Look for props. in disrepair: high grass, trash, apparent vacancies.How: Direct mail to owners; cold-call.No major break through here, but it works.

the challenge seems to be in finding an escrow/title company that will allow the "double escrow" to be done.....for example: there is an escrow open that is required by the lender once the "approval" from the lender is secured....then there needs to be another escrow opened between the "buyer" and the "end-buyer" on the same property....so, "end buyer" comes into escrow with the $300K plus closing costs, closes existing escrow on the property...then the title/escrow officer walks into the next room and applies the $250K plus closing costs to the original escrow to close that one.in theory and once in the past this was the way it was and still should be...but, now as it seems, most escrow/title companies are not wanting to do the "double" escrow for reasons of "full disclosure" to all parties, for fear of not being "sued" for some type of fraud.those of us not engaging in these tactics get penalized.....but, such is life....i have a title company that has stated they will do a "double" escrow but, will need to let the lender know this fact. not disclose the "amount" the "end-buyer" is paying, merely disclose there is a 'double" escrow in effect....well, obviously this should kill the deal right at the very end....so, not a wise direction to take....

My boss who is direct to one of our major investors is in need of a Las Vegas Casino that he can purchase for 65%LTV or lower.

Live and learn.....in the future I will use back taxes etc. as more of a negotiating tactic .I did just hear last week that the offer looked good, and it was sent on to their negotiator for further review.I must have really influenced the BPO already.

I guess its a little bit of a discredit towards RE agents but thats due to past experiences with a majority of agents here in NYC.