Not surprisingly I had to press them for some of the less favorable information, such as oil bill records on a house that was poorly insulated with an antiquated boiler. 

Most people who talk about those tricks and shortcuts will try to sell you on their "tried and true no money down rags to riches in 6 months method" or whatever, and they're making money on selling advertising on their website, books, seminars and snake oil but not actually real estate.

The Price of oil, declining cad, massive personal debt levels , insane housing prices etc etc...

The Oklahoma economy has taken a hit with oil being down, but certain areas around the metro are still growing.

Bakersfield was mostly an oil and ag community and both sectors were hit pretty hard which obviously took the area down pretty far, but in the past few years there have been massive changes and adaptations away from the solely ag and oil community. 

One of the other grad students in the department was the daughter of an oil sheik.

The oil slump will impede growth of any town.

Snake oils salesman and gurus have always been here.

She also used my good olive oil as...well, you know.

You could work in the oil fields for a year or two and easily clear 100k.