Listing agent mentioned there was already an offer in that hasn't been opened (great news), but most houses here are spending no more than 10 DOM.

Conventional requires usually 20% down, but recently there has been news of reduced DP conventional loans, which is good news for you.

Here's an interesting article I came across:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-06/millionaires-see-real-estate-as-top-investment-for-2014.html

Because there is so much competition, particularly in the high-end home market in California, some over the top tactics have made the news.

You would not be allowed, per IRS regulations, to use that IRA money, within the IRA account, and personally take out a mortgage for the balance of the purchase as it is a prohibited transaction to use an IRA asset as collateral for a personal loan.The good news is that your IRA/Solo(k) CAN take out its own mortgage in the form on a non-recourse loan.

This article continues the exchange with @Ryan Steele to give us feedback on the perspective of builders. http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2014/02/07/builders-ready-ramp-up-production-in-2014

But I want to encourage a debate and discussion based on this news.

When I read the news, for instance, about a supposedly great program that re-trains workers at a local community college so after they graduate, they can get hired at the new company in town that's paying $13/hour for skilled labor, it just makes me sad.

The last bigger pockets news letter had a blog post about Blackstone.http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/02/21/blackstones-portfolio-financing-investors/?

Just keep a thought in the back of your head that if you plan to invest at home (read: Canada) a few things will differ from investing in the U.S.A - namely in the areas of finance, regulation and taxation.The good news is there is a small cadre of Canadians active here on BP, so when you arrive at a one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others moment, you can ask for clarification.