But investors have to push past the glossy pages of the selling agent's brochures.Best discounts are in the more desperate seller market.

I structure my leases with a built in discount for early payment.

Sounds like you're losing out on rent for September, October, and November, plus have a difficult task ahead of you to get the apartment back in shape to sell, or may need to offer a discount to the buyer.

Adam, one piece of advice would be to leave your check book and credit cards at home.Every free seminar I've even been to has been an upsell to a seminar that does cost money, and/or a book/tape course and/or (the trend seems to be toward) a coaching program that has either a big up-front cost or a monthly ongoing fee.If you would like to go study how a salesman pitches a room of people however, it will probably be a great case study in sales techniques, especially the last 15-30 minutes where they really ratchet up the sales techniques.You'll get to see all the techniques like getting the audience to agree with simple statements to build rapport, presenting the "total cost" and then "slashing" it for a "today only discount", the old classic "limited time only, while supplies last" and its variant "for the first ___ people at the back of the room", etc.I've gotten good value out of seminars over the years.

Payments must be postmarked by the 5th to receive an early payment discount.

Is it treated as a discount on the purchase price?

They have nothing to lose so they have little motivation to sell at a discount to you.

I owe 19k on the property and my interest rate is 4.8%If i go get a loan through my credit union i can probably get a 3.8% and my private  lender said he'd give me an early payoff discount of $3,500.  

If you are looking for a flip, you need to find a deeper discount.

It's a bit of a challenge to get started but the benefits are tremendous once you have developed a relationship w/investors on a personal level and start delivering on your projects.