The goal is 10 over the next 2 years;- Found out that the one portfolio lender in Atlanta (at least the only one I know about) stopped lending on rehab properties, so my major source of leverage was cut off;- Raised $150K in private money...a first step to replacing some of the leverage lost when my bank stopped lending;- Put 3 properties (to be flipped) under contract, though one fell out of contract during due diligence;- Haven't been able to get a contract on the one property we've had listed for about 3 weeks;- Despite lots of offers, haven't been able to get contracts on any of the other properties that we've had listed for other investors (one of the slowest months I've seen for buyers in several years);- Got lots of "nasty" emails from blog readers asking why I've slowed down my posting... :(- Had the IRS issue a ruling on my use of a large chunk of my retirement funds -- they determined that I get to keep my money

South Texas is the same situation where I used to buy a lot of courthouse step properties, rehab and sell.

We're at the courthouse steps every week trying to buy.

Do not leave it up to the property owner.They might not confirm the fax went through to the bank,they might submit tot he wrong department,they might be using an old dirty fax machine where the transmission was garbled and the bank cannot read it etc.Make sure they sign the release EXACTLY as they signed the closing papers when they bought.I have had instances where unless the signature is exact as what they have on file for closing docs they will not release info.If someone married or they sold to someone else etc. you can explain that away it's just more steps.

I am confused on what type of paper work or documents I need to provide after I have a contract set up with a seller and buyer. For example say I have a seller who has a agreed to sell me his house for 60k and then I ...

The next step is into a condo/PUD/home etc.

I think my first step is really just buying what i can when i can- it will be hard at this point to find others.

I'm constantly reading that they meet up somewhere (courthouse steps).

I know that the first step is often the hardest to make and im so excited that I didnt get caught in the continous cycle of research and more research and even more research and scared to make the first step.

Only you and the seller need to know what that amount is and once they sign the agreement you can make the introduction and then step out of the way as you will only clog of the deal.