The purpose of Dodd Frank and the Consumer Protection Act is to put an end to the risky lending practices that fueled the financial meltdown.

Biggest things I see to improve are Paint, drywall repair, replace the acoustical tile ceiling with drywall, flooring, Counter tops, shower surround.

If you have that sale price (or value based on rents) deduct the costs of improvements, holding expenses and costs of acquiring the property, throw in you required return and you'll have the value to you for that property.

They will manage the project better, they will make improvements that have pay-back, they have a set of trustworthy contractors, etc...

Too many more to list, but ask lots of questions, and practice, practice, practice!

You can finance improvements and labor after work has been accomplished, earned equities from products or services like some window company finances new windows after they are installed, this is a contractor financing arrangement.

Then you take the cash flow and create a hefty down payment to improve your bank finance options at the end of the year.

These properties were financed after the safe act went into affect.This attorney you used sounds grossly negligent from what YOU have said in many mistakes.The attorneys I know will send you a document and you read it and they REDLINE any changes and you discuss and go back and forth until you are satisfied.The fact that you didn't read at signing and TRUSTED as you say this lawyer has no bearing on the fact that you should have read it.A judge will see it the same way.What I am seeing is a mess created by two parties being you and your attorney.You have to figure out how to get things back on track.You need to know in each state where you own these properties if you can foreclose and how long that would take and what it would cost and what you could sell for to get any money back and move on.This attorney as you say sounds nice but general practice attorneys I find make numerous mistakes when handling specific areas of law.

Paying off your balance every month is responsible practice and good for your credit score, but it makes you a less-than-ideal customer from the standpoint of the credit card company.

The markets mentioned in the post appear to be experiencing some speculation but I believe values will plunge again if the economy does not continue to improve.