If you win the property and then don't submit your EMD within the timeframe stipulated (generally 24-48 hours), they will then ding your CC.  

Let's talk about a lowball offer case.Property is listed for 100K ( might be an overestimate from sellers part - seller/agent).Based on your calculation as an investor you comeup with an ARV of 65K.As a investor you clearly think the seller will take this as an lowball offer.Will you still go ahead and submit the offer for 65K or won't submit any offer and wait for the listing price to come down.( assuming your agent also agree with valuation and submits your offer) Assumption here is the investors ARV calc is right 90% of the time the property should sit in the market for a while without any promising offers and listing price should comedown.

Many veterans do not know of this.Expenses vary depending on the property.I invest in fix and flips and own a 4-plex purchased and refinanced a couple of times through VA Home Loans in Colorado Springs.I try to spread the word and help as many veterans as I can.Respectfully submitted, Ernest Adams

I should submit my highest and best offer, properties are sold as is, no commissions, no warranties.

You won't know until after you are in contract, and the bank then evaluates the contract submitted.  

But I think you both are right, we can only truly see how motivated he is after we submit an offer.

It is crucial that you create relationships with the selling brokers so that you are not an unknown quantity once you decide to submit a LOI.

You should still be able to submit deductions and credits on your taxes as a private investor although I'm sure there is more involved.

If I understand you correctly you are saying that it is a predatory practice to submit low offers and that it creates a bad reputation.

@Marquis HarrisWhile both IRAs and solo 401k plans can be invested in real estate, both retirement account types are different and similar in the following fashion:The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k Similarities Both were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions;Both are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m) The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (IRA LLC)  must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2016; the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)