They are mostly looking for fully rehabbed properties so the environment is strong for fix and flips. 

Another question in an environment where values are decreasing due to interest rates how do you play that to your advantage?  

You should explain to him that you do everything possible to keep your tenants in a safe environment for their stay.

For those of us who "care" about how healthy a home is to live in, how efficient it is AND what impact it has on the environment, you bring essential knowledge to BP.I'm in the East Bay, interested in investing in Oakland & SF.

With the current job environment, you'll probably want to be able to move to another town if necessary - which affects the strategy to choose.You might try bird-dogging.

Yes I am in total favor of paying for their factories to pollute the environment less so that they can continue to take jobs away from our economy.

Unfortunately in todays lending environment, there's not much there to leverage. 75% LTV is about as high as anyone will go on investment property, and that's for Fannie Mae type loans on conforming properties. 70% is about the max when you get into commercial loans.Have you spoken with any local banks in the areas where you want to invest?

An inexpensive home can be safe and secure, it may need paint, carpeting might be worn but there is no excuse in owning a fire hazard or an unhealthy environment and preying on the poorer of those in any community. :)

And since we are in a very good earning environment the write off's are helping with my write on's and I get out of the rental business !

But we have a very strong health care industry and educational environment for the population.