As long as I'm invested in diverse items, I feel comfortable.

I rely a lot on my gut, typically if I am not comfortable with them or think they are not telling the truth about something, I pass.

Recently I have become excited with finding affordable options for comfortable and practical living.

If you're not comfortable determining this for yourself, I highly recommend you find a good property inspector in your area to go through the house with you.

If urban to suburban over 1 mile is not an accurate comp.In fact when I do BPO's for banks and mills they want usually within 3 miles for rural and sometimes up to 5 mile radius or less.Suburban usually 1/2 mile or less but up to 1 mile in certain circumstances.In Urban core they want 1/4 mile or less.The BPO companies and their clients feel even if a comp doesn't match up that's close they would rather have me make adjustments than go to far out of area where they believe the comps do not match to the subject.So I would re-look closely at comps and try to find better ones that are closer.Example if you can only find solds 1 mile away for 180,000 but no solds near you but actives for 150,000 then the 150,000 or less carries much more weight.The buyers are giving with the data that they will choose to pay more for a similar property in a nicer area and pass over the actives where you are willing to purchase.

Go up to the top of the screen and mouse over "resources"; choose FilePlace.Or just click here: http://www.biggerpockets.com/files/category/contracts

Jon, I know many people wouldn't feel comfortable with my unsecured iPhone habit.

The agent is legally required to submit the offer to the seller for consideration, and if the seller chooses to make the bank aware of the new offer, that's his prerogative.If the agent refused to submit the written offer to the client, speak with the agent's broker...

You need to know how long you are going to be locked in before you see profit and if you are comfortable with that.

Whichever you choose, I suggest you start by getting educated in that field starting right here on BP, then perhaps with an experienced investor in your area who is actively and successfully doing it!