Mike, what kind of terms are you seeing from your local bank?

I went to costa rica a few weeks ago and had a great time.But really it depends on you. its kind of like asking what car should I get.

That pretty well means that it is impossible for mankind to devise any method, system, program, arrangement or agreement of any kind that allows credits or reduces the fair market value that may lead to any purchase of residential property by an owner occupied buyer.

If you've done your due diligence and you're cautious, it's hard to take that kind of beating.

@Page Huyette I fully appreciate the kind of smart buying that @Ben Leybovic uses and his opposition to "buying equity" on multifamily properties, but I think that concept is misapplied here.

But it depends on what kind of note it is, commercial RE, with or without inventory or business assets, residential, 1st, 2nds, performing, non-performing, slow pays, guarantors of any kind, cash loans or funded with equity based on a sale.Notes are more involved than RE, RE is only part of notes as the collateral.

I think the point @John Rooster was trying to make is 'what kind of transaction does the $8K represent?'

I can say that flat fee brokers are probably not popular with full commission brokers, so you'll hear all kinds of misinformation. :)

A financially distressed seller can get into all kinds of trouble which could result in having additional liens come against the property (back property taxes, irs liens, child support, water/sewer, etc), or they could lose the property altogether by foreclosure.

Decide what kind of investment you want - do you want MFR or SFR?