Congrats on having the equity that you do.Let me try to explain my position: Because of the economic climate in my (and other) areas I can likely get $1695 out of a home in an 'B+' neighborhood for $150K ($300/mo net income if fully rented).

Comps in the neighborhood make its after repair value around 80,000.

Cape Cod in a cute, established neighborhood.

You should put a financing and appraisal contingencies in the contract for the new home.4- Assuming you (and your family) are going to live in the new house there are a whole slew of other items for you to consider ie: school district, neighborhood safety, travel time for work, etc.I wouldn't worry too much about getting a deal on a house I'm going to live in unless it is for a very short term.

It barely takes effort to add your name and email address to their list when they send out available properties.I assume you have decided on a particular niche for your investments - either by price, zip code, neighborhood, school district, etc.

Be resolute.Depending on the neighborhood, purchase price, ARV, exit strategy and a few other factors, these can certainly be weighted.I personally think the 2% rule is very useful -- as is Maximum Allowable Offer.

List is $260,000 comps are between $425-450.Great School District, neighborhood and location.High taxes, $8500They took everything they could when they left.

This is a great trend to see as it creates renewed interest in more difficult neighborhoods and revives communities.Is this happening in other areas across the country?

Hi Ben, I've lived in Toledo all my life...can't say it's anything unusual that makes jobs and renters, we have strong manufacturing with obvious ties to the automotive industry (Dana corp- parts supplier, Jeep- manufacturer, Owens Corning- insulation/bldg materials, Anderson's- agriculture/fertilizer, First Solar) Like any area we have some $250k and up neighborhoods with little crime and great schools...and some seedier areas where you will read about gang shootings about once a week.

“They’re neighborhoods where we will help local efforts to meet one National goal: that a child’s course in life should be not by the ZIP code she’s born in, but by the strength of her work ethic and the scope of her dreams,” the President said.The cities selected for the first zones are Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Antonio, while the Kentucky zone covers a multicounty region in the southeastern Highlands area.