Ed-Just surveying the market, I see crypto currency making moves everyday, just interesting to watch the progression of this progressive currency.

The Ultimate Beginner's Guide is now a course that you can now watch.

Again I'm no professional just a DIY-er but an exterior French drain system sounds like your best and cheapest option.Here's the link on the right installation:http://www.easydigging.com/Drainage/installation_french_drain.htmlHere's on why it works:https://www.youtube.com/watch?

I'm not watching Houston, but perhaps low oil prices are tempering things?

Even a section on crowdfunding for flips:https://www.youtube.com/watch?

They are worth watching.

In hind sight we could have achieved the same advantage with some sort of zero scape "see youtube vid" https://www.youtube.com/watch?

You cannot beat that guy or his real estate agent.You must market for motivated sellers and attract unlisted properties where the owner sees the benefit of taking a cash offer rather than putting their house on the market, which could require them to make costly repairs with $ they don't have.I like 3 methods for reaching the off-market, motivated seller:1) Direct mail, to people WITH EQUITY, especially absentee owners2) AdWords (Google Search marketing)3) Outdoor (billboards, bandit signs, bus signage, etc. etc.)Click on my FACE in this post and watch the video in my user profile here on BP - it's called "The Search for Motivated Sellers".  ;-)  This is THE #1 CHALLENGE for all of us.  

At some point you are gonna have to get off the fence and go for it, otherwise you will always be watching from the other side. 

I stay near an open door, and I don't go upstairs with them unless it's an occupied house, and I need to watch them closer.