It was a badly organized auction and supposed to be absolute.

I know a lot of the TK sales organizations glossed over this aspect years ago but everyone of them has a license these days..

I'm in a unique situation where my DTI ratio is preventing me from buying a house at even half the monthly payment I've been paying in rent for years (I actually pay early every month).

If the inexperienced investor knew how much work, effort, time, analysis, negotiation, organization, capital, and knowledge it takes to successfully find, identify, evaluate, and close on a property that fits the criteria that gurus falsely claim they see 100’s of every day, 99% of them would abandon their real estate dreams” and pursue ostrich farms, mink breeding, or setting up a “down line” to sell condensed cleaning products that their “upline” has an exclusive distributorship on for the southwestern quadrant of Bisbee, Arizona.  

I have saved and organized electronically all receipts for expenses as well as improvements on the property. 

BiggerPockets (BP) does have some tools and templates that can help keep you organized (like checklists for inspections, title, and earnest money).

Creating a single listing page can be a powerful tool for marketing a property, and it works especially well for unique or high-value properties where you want to present a detailed, immersive experience that standard listings can’t offer.

•Challenges & Opportunities: What are some common challenges that investors face in this market, and are there any unique opportunities right now?

I have heard Texas and most areas would be closer to $100 when its all said and done.You can find good contractors through realtors, HBA in your area, REI Facebook groups and meetups etc.Make sure to check references of past and current clients, visit some jobs in process as you can tell a lot about a contractor by how the job site is kept up and organized.

Urban areas like Austin and Dallas are appealing for growth potential and job markets, but the suburbs and smaller towns offer more unique opportunities (lower entry costs and a steady flow of families and retirees seeking affordability and space).