Remember losing 30% in a Schwab, supposed safe almost like cash money market fund.

I was recently offered a house that I like the numbers but the foundation was recently repaired.

The BP Blog is on a whole different platform - Wordpress - because it's the most universally awesome "foundation" for blogs.

Is the building on a slab foundation or dirt?

Things like -appraisal-home inspection-structure/termites/foundation/hot water heater/furniture etc.

I gotta argue w/ the HOA president every day denying my repair requests (even though I pay 20.5% of my rent toward HOA) & threatening to fine me for tenant violations.Here's one that came up the other day - 1/4 inch crack on the foundation (on a slab).

He told me about tree roots in sewer lines, sinking foundations, and other big repairs to his rehab houses that cost him thousands of dollars.

I think the time is coming to get back into the whole "We Buy Houses" mode where you have flyers, marketing, signs etc targeted at FSBO with equity who need to sell fast. 2013 may not be the best year for it, but I plan to start laying the foundations now and starting to get my name out there. 2014, 2015 and on could see more homeowners with equity and I want to be positioned to be the one they call when they need to sell.

Yes, this house had basement/foundation problems, and had the house been here in Atlanta, we probably would have passed on it due to those issues.But, in Milwaukee, the entire city is built on clay, and about 80% of houses that are over 25 years old have foundation problems.

All of sudden they have to contract everything out, and their return will be similar to an REIT or even worse.The foundation of a Healthy US Economy is the Health of the Real Estate Market.