In order for this deal to really be a win for her, I need to pay off her debts.

Our life style is modest, but we make decent livings (well north of 125k a year before any overtime or bonuses) and our kids college is already paid for.

The lease option, especially on properties you own, can be a really good, hassle-free(ish), REI strategy that creates win-win solutions.

I have a cousin who could use some extra cash, and I was considering having him drive some neighborhoods for me, looking for vacancies and deals -- win-win, right?

I've developed over $100 million in commercial and investment real estate in my career and I've got some unconventional advice you won't hear everyday...if you want to win in an ultra competitive real estate investment market...overpay.  

The way that it works is that they only get paid if they win an appeal.

They appreciate me as owner, Land Lord because I pay them promptly.I pick the battles I can win, do some of the work myself and hire the rest.I do understand how to enjoy my money.

We bid on these properties and we never know what we're going to win, but I can walk you through our due diligence process, our marketing strategy for the properties and some examples of deals that we've done so that you can understand how and when you're going to get your money back.  

With construction back ground and no financial investment, they help with fixing up properties with a small income and then bonus after property closes.

Insurance company simply must not be one of the obnoxious ones that refuses to provide their Cost Estimator Worksheet to the lender, so the lender can ensure that the insurance folks aren't doing fuzzy math to bring down the annual premium and win the customer (comes up less than 5% of the time).