I've read advice before that said to use a line like "I usually use $10 as consideration to make this purchase contract binding" or something to that effect.

You can also set a thread to be one you are interested in or set other threads to ignore.The effect on the MF site is I can focus on threads that I have determined are of interest and I can see if someone is posting a reply to a specific comment I made.

I would want to advertise effectively the same spec property at a price that was just below most of the other ads.

Put a fence up with large no trespassing signs on their side; call the absentee landlord and told them they needed to clean up the apartment house and stop renting to criminals and stood in the yard and yelled at them.Told the local cops everything and they went next door to interview the culprits.

When a tenant stained it, with professional cleaning, the stain would generally blend in and if not, it was easy to cut out a piece and patch back in with some original leftover scraps.

They were effectively outbidding people with more experience like yourself.I for one am happy that the dumb money has largely left the market.

Check the state regulations concerning HOAs.I know that in one state where I purchased a new condo there is a law (about 5 years old now) that requires there to be a reserve fund set up and the costs of all items to be estimated over their effective life.

How many are effective is a different question.I have done an a lot of business without a website.

I've found that the decision is often based more on the availability of good, reliable, cost effective labor.

Banks will pay for other services but those also can be handled by licensed agents (BPO, clean out scheduling, coordinating maintenance and some evictions).Unless you want to buy a large portfolio and have a large bank balance to demonstrate Proof Of Funds (POF) assume that most deals will be through a local RE agent.