I know Fannie Mae prefers 10% of offer compared to $500 which normally works with other REO offers.PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND WITH BOOK KNOWLEDGE!

Whole-heartedly agreed - Kilz is your best friend.....if it is true hard wood - you do have a choice though.....Start by ripping out the carpet - in a lot of cases - the pad is what is holding a good chunk of the smell....pull the pad & tack strips out - if they are stained....once that's out for a day or so - then you can re-evaluate.....if you're gonna re-carpet - try with the Kilz before replacing the sub floor....you MAY be ok....also - they have a water based Kilz - easier to use than the oil based....JMHO....Thanks - Ken

The disadvantages are many though: when it is forwarded to my personal cell and goes to voice mail, it goes to my personal voice mail instead of reverting back to the prepaid account's vm; it means having another cell phone; and I had no choice in picking my number.

Can you just ask him what he would prefer you to do?

The only way around that is to get a bit more creative like get an 80% tard. loan, and the 10-20% balance from a line of credit or preferably a HELOC which has the lowest rates/fees and the easiest to obtain.

I prefer SFR/SFH just because these tend to attract a better sort of client.

I hope you got this number from a contractor (preferably one that is capable and ready to do the work) as, once again, it will add to your credibility.

I do investor flips as one of the potential exit strategies of holding property - though I much prefer to simply landlord.

It all depends on what kind of job, life, and skills you prefer.

Anyhow, I'm thankful for the mistakes I made in the past because if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have made better choices later.