@Rebecca Martin its unfortunate that you've run into an agent with this attitude, but it looks like the writing is on the wall.

@PritiDonnelly - It's especially rare in Japan, since houses usually lose their full value within 20 years (land is the only thing that retains value).

The only surprises were installing a new retaining wall and filling in pool.

I saw the writing on the wall and took a wonderful full time job in academia where I have been working for the past decade.  

$1500 is a little steep, but possibly not if you're going with real thick glass, crooked walls, expensive trim etc.

@William WalshInvesting IRA funds in real estate is a good option for those that want to grow their next egg in investments outside wall street.

Keep banging your head against the wall, eventually you'll get through.

This week I have 2 sellers I'm meeting with. the first has a 3bd/1ba house from 1885 that needs EVERYTHING. he put in new walls. it needs floors raised, a kitchen, 2 ba, lights, etc. repairs were estimated at 49k by my contractor.

Only moving 2 walls, moving kitchen from one end of a room to the other, and rebuilding a deck, but other than those two items it is all just finishings.

The writing is on the Wall folks.