The lack of experience here would have me attempting to ask you to hammer your local library on the matter of real estate investing so we dont make any monumental mistakes.

It should also be noted (since you've tagged this with rent to own) that lease options are a little tricky in texas, and many people's attempt to do them is illegal.

J Scott, I know you're pasionate about building good relationships with the appraisers, if you can good for you, but people do need to be careful as to what they say and how they say it, if thier blood sugar level is really high, it can back fire on you and, if they really don't like it, they can report you for making an attempt to influence them.

The more ways you attempt to contact them, the better chance you have of success.

Sean Brennan, Your concerns are much of the basis for my advice for new investors to begin with a good basic understanding of RE rather than attempt to be so niche oriented or concentrate in one area, like wholesale transactions.

I'm in Central Cal and curious your ideal price point for homes that work well for you.I know your market and mine are different, but I'm on the "v2.0 RE recovery" after a bad real estate fall out with an ex partner and attempting to get back into the game.

I have no idea what the plumbing and heating could cost to have fixed, but if it can be done for less that 12k would this be a deal worth attempting?

I guess it's not bad to call yourself a property manager, but if the change is an attempt to deceive ... don't do it.

If your first attempt is to purchase or wholesale the property, you make a cash offer and it isn't accepted, is it then legal (or ethical) to list it if you're also an agent?

That said, I am attempting to wholesale and I must say, at least in California it is not easy.