If there were multiple ads for a particular home I would look to see what his original list price/date was, how much he dropped it and how long before the ad disappeared or sold.This helped me familiarize myself with the market as well as look for the MH that was suitable for my first deal.I don't know if you've read them or not but I started a couple threads that are like a 'walk through' of my first few deals and have a ton of great input for others here at BP.First Lonnie deal.. on the right track?

What's to keep the current owner from closing and taking her proceeds and disappearing, leaving you with all the windows to be replaced?

The warranty probably disappears the day they close up shop. 

And believe me, we have earned EVERY penny of it, as the family has repeatedly brought in bedbugs, lives in incredible filth, refused to pay their tiny portion of the rent, concealed earnings from Sec 8 - not, of course, the father's - he never has worked - but the high school aged sons' earnings, and even brought in a young teenage girl who we were quite sure was the next wife - she disappeared after we called the authorities about that.So it's really been a mixed bag. 

There's high demand virtually year-round, no severe weather threats, and the local economy is so entwined with vacation rentals that there's plenty of service people to help you run your property.  

No potential threat, except for being too cute. 

The rules don't take effect for 6 months, but the message is clear.Cities want their hotel tax revenue.Cities don't want those big bad real estate investors to make too much money.Cities don't want rental inventory disappearing from the market.Don't make a highly leveraged 25 year financial commitment on the assumption that current market conditions will remain the same.I stay away from things that the general public get into and it seems everyone wants to rent out an extra room or home.

Pros: Let yourself into a house without having to wait on someone, get some commission back on purchases and sales, direct access to mlsCons: More regulations, cost, time involved with CE courses to maintain license, broker supervision if you are independent, more threats of legal action

Once you bring a property manager into the mix, that premium compresses or simply disappears. 

Because once you're away, your motivation disappears and you're in a "okay, now what?"