I have looked at Argus and it cost thousands and thousands of dollars.I found it to be too cumbersome.For me I would use a system for my own buying as well as creating reports.Argus is best utilized for buying big properties where you have a bunch of analysts crunching the numbers for a huge acquisition.I can do the spreadsheet thing but I spend a lot of time on the phone with clients and wanted to automate as much as possible in sending out information.I find the level of investor sophistication varies as well.Some want to look at a bunch of numbers and others just want basic info.Thanks for the replies.

Success getting that restriction removed during the purchase negotiations is varied.

Book prices vary widely and are all over the map.

Obviously the specific laws vary by state, but the principles of self defense are universal.

The lease rates that were provided vary wildly from a low of $0.20/sq.ft.to $1.60/sq.ft.

It varies state by state on what level a real estate broker/agent can help a seller with a short sale on the residential side.In some states brokers/agents simply submit a contract and attorneys for the parties do the rest.In some states brokers/agents can help with workout options but in other states they must hold a mortgage license.There is also Federal requirements and disclosures brokers/agents must use when listing a short sale.The government calls it "the short sale streamline process".I call it a bunch of red tape that isn't needed which creates more government oversight and bloat wasting our tax dollars.Depending on loan type if the property is FHA then they can only accept a certain amount off of appraisal.A few years back it was easier to massage the bpo using different strategies to get close to your purchase number.Today more banks are using agents with experience doing bpo's and also the banks have controls in place to almost eliminate any manipulation by investor purchasers on value.Another point is if your area is declining by 1 percent a month and it takes 3 months for an approval by the time you close you have lost 3% in value.How you approach a short sale and an acceptable number will depend on what you are doing with the property.Margins and hold times are different for assigning,flipping,and rentals.

Mechanic lien laws vary state to state as well.

In other words, if you have the high bid, you're not guaranteed to get the property; instead, your bid will be submitted to the asset manager, who in turn can accept it, reject it or counter it.In my experience (and from speaking to other investors), about 50% of REDC bids are accepted by the asset manager, with the maximum discount off of list price at about 60-65% (anything less is almost always rejected or countered).Of course, your mileage may vary...

What those minimums are of course will vary from one area to another ...You also have to pay attention to any easements, since they can restrict what you can put into or onto the easement.

Answers will vary depending on whether you intend to wholesale, rehab/flip or buy&hold.