Comparing apples to apples, Allstate has consistently been half of some of the other companies. 

The woman at the front desk apologized for the wait, saying that they have consistently been sold out on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

I think most people know to include all your expenses in the numerator but it's the denominator that doesn't seem to be very consistent. 

I hear Queen Center Mall looks practically like -and better than- Manhattan mall these days.I'd do phone interviews then meet at a public place ie Starbucks in Forest Hills unless my office were available already.For properties to invest in, I'd probably work with an investor-friendly broker who I'd legally be able to pay a commission per deal found and closed on.

When I started private practice two years ago, I finally decided it was time to educate myself in financial matters, and boy, was it an eye-opening experience.  

Upon a finding of delinquency of the account consistent with the policies adopted by the public entity regarding nonpayment, cost of the service and expenses, the clerk of the public entity may file a notice of lien with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located describing the property, cost of the service provided and expenses incurred by the municipality, excluding late charges, penalties, and interest, and stating that the public entity claims a lien on the property for this service; provided, that a lien shall not be filed against property in which the delinquent account is owed by a tenant or lessee and not by the property owner; "

Based on what I've learned about recognizing a deal and understanding the numbers, even-though the seller was not interested or motivated to sell, I saw it as a good practice instead. 

This practice is less than attractive, IMHO to any newbie investor; especially when the discussion was to have, at a minimum, 3 separate series, 1 to buy and sell (flips), one to hold (rentals), and one to handle operations(PM or day to day OPS).  

maybe every 5th or the 6th works better for them than the 1st. yea, at least its consistently monthly payments.

Again, as to compliance issues, understand what prudent lending practices are and what is seen or can be seen as predatory, this applies to commercial or consumer financing, just that consumer loans are heavily regulated.