It seems that the MLS searches can help you readily identify every neighborhood in your MSA that has a decent volume of retail sales activity in your targeted price range.

Don't insult us by buying retail.

17... eleven rental units and 6 retail deals.

Using hard money will allow you get into most deals with very little if any funds of your own, and as long as the deal is great it will be able to carry the hard money costs.The same holds true for a retail flip... if it is a great deal it will be able to absorb the hard money costs.I hope this helps?

You are paying closer to retail for turkey,so your return will be lower.

Eric,I have found that for retail flips absorbtion rates are a great indicator or what is happening within specific zip codes.Determining an absorption rate is pretty straight forward.Using your local MLS, or tools like Realtor.com or Redfin determing the number of properties on the market in your specified area for a given period of time... and even price range.

I have found the better deal you get the more you have to watch them.With a low bid they want the job but then get resentful when starting the job and if a bigger retail job comes along they will put you on hold.They also tend to try and cut corners when you are not there.This is why it is best to watch them and not advance them a bunch of money.They get the bulk of the money when they complete correctly and on time.

I can help you find someone for retail, office, or industrial as well.

If you're selling to a retail buyer, just build into your rehab timeline extra time to get the title seasoned.Even on REOs with the typical 90 day restriction, I find that a rehab takes me 4-6 weeks.

In general, I look for properties that are comparable to other retail properties that tend to be selling in areas where there tend to be lots of retail buyers.