Luckily I have yet to experience the situation you describe Seth.I think all new investors should consider spending a few days sitting in and listening at housing court, and at real estate commission hearings.

If we can do this and have more flexibility to spend time with our children than our corporate jobs allow for, we’ll be happy campers.

I spend my efforts investing in notes for simple fact I can get passive income and don't have to deal with tenants, toilets or trash.If your strategy is to create passive income, you may have some options in the notes space.

Should I just do a saturated direct mail campaign to all addresses in the area or spend the time researching only the distressed properties?

If you buy right you may not have to spend a lot  more than $30K.Ned

When I first moved to my area I would spend my weekend going to as many open houses as possible.

Do the numbers: If you buy locally, how much do you need to spend with down payment, then monthly payments?

I have a three year old son and a Wife that I am unable to spend much time with and we are struggling and I HATE it!

., resident in the forums.Click on the "learn tab" at the top of the page, and you could be spending many hours on the Information that is available.Raymond

We at least had some idea what we were doing, and how to spend the funds.