John Reed doesn't have a lot of credibility in my eyes.

Make a low ball offer then rinse and repeat, eventually you will have a list of houses you keep an eye on to see if they reduce the price, hit a certain age, or get sold.Kinda simple and low tech but it works for me and I actually enjoy driving around looking at houses lol.

I also get neighbors involved by offering to buy them lunch once a week if they keep a eye on the house.

I will keep my eye on that one.

The major benefit to this, in my eyes, would be to learn my way around handling house problems and becoming generally 'handy' with fixing things up.

In 2005, my starry-eyed parents (seeing great real estates gains in their area) decided to jump head first into real estate investing.

Poland actually caught my eye recently as it supplies 25% of the world's silver.

You want a wide angle (short) but non-fish eye lens for good interior shots.

(Anytime we're in the car we have our eye out)..........  

I would think that your loan should be closer to 3 points.First time flippers that lack experience aren't a huge risk, in my eyes.