I am picturing using my current single-family deal finding skills to list and sell a few high-value commercial properties per year and collect some fat commission checks.

The thought of the old fat guy smoking a $500 cigar at the club, bragging his azz off is usually one not the picture of a successful person, as he likes people to think, he'll also be sure to be setting himself to be taken down by those with means.

I am a big believer in the 80/20 principle and "trimming the fat" so I really like what you said with "what works vs. what doesn't".

Like it or lump it, the Fannie/Freddie stuff amounts to a big fat gov't subsidy of the loan terms, and it's tough to compete with that if your loans aren't thusly backed. 

I agree with @mike Roberts .....less utilities the better.. also in City of Philadelphia unpaid gas bills from tenant will go against the property nice fat Lien...

Fat chance.Is this an owner-occupied unit?

Sorry, fat fingers dupe post

If there was extra land I could parcel out or demo the building and construct a higher density or sell the land to a developer for a fat profit then the building breaking even wouldn't bother me as much.Because the value wouldn't be tied to just the building bit more so the land that it sits on.Also if the rents were under market and you had deferred maintenance that would come in as far as value plays.I don't just look at a property from an income stand point.There are many angles to look at it from where it might make sense.

If the loans go belly up then the lenders that made them can get gobbled up by competitors and the lending market marches on.Seems pretty simple to me.

These credit sites are just like the fancy bathroom scales that tell you body fat %...