I know the term safe is a relatively subjective term when it comes to real estate but I am talking more along the line of what neighborhood/area can one stand to make a fairly significant gain with a 15-25K cosmetic rehab/update?

I have no idea what I'm doing (I hesitate to say I am "new" to real estate investing because I'm not doing any investing by definition) but this is what I've been doing as well.Luckily my city has records online so I can see how much a house was sold for and on what date without getting off the couch.

If you have goals, you're likely to have better success and more progress.As for the group deals, I would stay out of them unless you really know them well or have things drawn up in a way where you're as safe as possible.

=====================================LOL====================================="wow this guy goes on and on...he's like the energizer bunny...he doesn't quit".....Well when you're rich son of a ***** like me, you work at home, and you have no more cares or responsibilities and you're no longer in the rat race...well what else is there to do but go into forums to philosophize and to do some online gaming. ha ha."

Or do you just get online to dish everyone?

Your local property tax rate can be researched through your tax office which will most likely be online.

Why don't you take care of the investors well by giving them solid information under the legal parameters of the law and keep all of you safe?

I would find your state's property code online.

I want to get involved in real estate investing and have been looking at as many places as possible while doing research online.

When I can obviously tell that they got a mortgage for $200k only 2 years ago by looking online.