Things have been a lot tougher the past year (not just here, but all over the country), so you have to have marketing and negotiation skills -- you can't just buy stuff off the MLS like you could from 2008-2011 (those were great times :).Good luck!

We don't have many flying insects nor the need for storm doors in our part of the country.

I have it insured for actual cash value and not replacement cost.I used to work for an insurer that covered greenhouses all over the country and I can tell you there is a pretty straight-forward formula for the pricing.

They probably need to in certain parts of the country where many properties sit on large acreages (parts of Mississippi and Texas, where I was once stationed, comes to mind).

We're already invested in TX and we plan to expand there, but I'm curious what's going on in other areas of the country.

George time is a killer on rehabs because of holdings costs and the right market timing on selling.I would find out if your market is REO or short sale driven.I have other broker friends across the country that list REO for residential.Big banks are almost finished working out a settlement with the government on the ROBO fiasco.Word is later this year banks are going to start shredding the backlog of shadow inventory.This will put extra downward pressure on many markets for price and concessions given to buyers while increasing holding times.What I tell investors is to analyze at what percentage your market is stabilizing,appreciating,or declining.What you know is what the market is doing today.It's hard to predict the market in a few months when the rehab took longer than expected.I would price it within the bottom 50% of Actives given they are not grossly overpriced.Pay more attention to the recent sold's.You do not want to chase the market down.I don't know how many times I have seen sellers of any property type price high and chase the market down.If they would have priced correctly they would have sold much faster and for more money in a declining market.It sounds like you bought into a marginal deal with heavy holding costs and longer repairs.Best thing to do is too dump it quick and move to the next one where experience will get you better margins going forward.Good Luck

There are also a number of investment clubs around the country who will take on younger people to do the dirty work.

Because the vast majority of people in this country are talkers - not doers!

Great link, The increasing unemployment is really hitting the majority of the country now.

Up here in snow country, all my rentals have at least 2 heat sources, with one that will run without any electricity.