I would make sure I didn't max out any credit cards as a dumb college kid, and all that money that went into clubs and nonsense would go to into buying my first property at age 19 instead of age 23...

I don't have deep pockets to spend with big companies charging a monthly fortune to help me manage.  

Fortunately for me appreciation vs. my initial estimate helped to offset much of the overrun.  

Our street is next to a fancy country club neighborhood, with a golf course & yacht club. 

You can find them by checking with a local real estate investors (REI) club, talking to other investors, or just making phone calls.

Sometimes it isn't obvious, and many time counter intuitive, but find that competitive edge.... and it could make a fortune. 

I've been fortunate enough to cross paths with an multi family investor in the Bronx and plan on picking his brain quite a bit, but I'd like to get other opinions.My thoughts:1.

Fortunately, the comps in the area also went up, and so we put it on the market the second week of May at 550k.

Fortunately for their family (unfortunately for you), if there are no secured assets, any debt they have dies with them.

Fortunately I got the condos at auction after a market crash where units going for $110K and above went for below $40K, and 10 years later, when the market was on an upswing, went back up to $100K.