The smaller banks can soak up the market share up for grabs gradually as they are slowly put out of business for this nonsense.

I get things off within 2- 4 months gradually.

========The key issues on my mind are... how long we have in this current deflationary time period to get our ducks in a row... will I be able to recognize when real estate has hit bottom (or close to the bottom)... whether inflation will hit hard and fast, or will be a gradual increase?

I'm gradually getting into short-term currency trading.

One is currently accepted but is foreclosed and still has a tenant from hell squatting in it, he won't allow anyone in the property's first two floors and wants $7k cash for keys and a showing haha Anyway, I have a couple of cash partners lined up and my goal is to purchase multi families with decent cash flow at closing, make wise improvements, and gradually trade up in size via flips or 1031's into some very large properties which will support us full-time when we get there.

I think that while the economy itself is gradually creeping up, the housing market may pull it back down, especially if the robosigning crisis in the foreclosures drags on..

It's certainly taken a fair bit of time and effort to get to the point I'm at now; with setting up my LLC and US bank account and tax ID and gradually building up a network of people 'on the ground' to help me, but I have now done my first deal, for a net profit of $9,000.

Realtors I talk to think prices will likely move down 10-15% in 2011, flatten in 2012, then begin to gradually recover.

If you have "private money" at decent terms available wonderful..otherwise its not a rosy picture.Won't be running a business, or making as much as possible, but if you buy right there really is no way not to come out ahead, and gradually build up assets.

If gas is used for cooking, you may put in some fixed base amount per person or so, as simple or complicated as you want (or the tenants desire...).Of course, you would have to gradually change it when leases come up for renewal.