Or maybe 3.75% 30 year mortgages are the new normal, forever... who knows. ( I sure don't)My only advice is this: If you buy another house, buy with an eye toward making it a rental.

so, couple months ago i settled multiple unsecured credit cards and now finally they are reporting as closed (by the consumer) and settled (for the amount agreed; a few say for less than the full amount, though).my fico/credit score is still terrible, low, though, at 528. last year, it was in the 700s but then i splurged at home depot and realized i may as well just default on all those credit cards and let them go to collections cuz i heard they settle for around half. besides i was going 'blind' (severe postcapsularhaze) for some time after a traumatic head-on injury and even after eye surgery in both eyes so my credit score was the least of my concerns.anyways i'm wondering now that i do not have nor will i open any new lines of credit (no more credit cards, no more cell phone contracts, no mortgage, no auto loan, etc) indefinitely, how long might it take for my credit as far as 'score' to be back up to qualifying say for an FHA?

Still, this often fails and I have to keep a close eye, but at least there is a fighting chance...Dawn is absolutely right.

I can almost do it with my eyes closed.

Let me know what your investment criteria is and I will keep an eye out for anything that lands on my desk which you may find of interest.

Keep your eyes open and look at ALL of the numbers.  

I’d like to give a huge shout out to the entire BP community for opening my eyes to the possibilities of real estate investing and being there to give advice, recommend books, and answer my questions along the way.

I'll keep my eyes peeled. 

thank you James Wise,I don't have my eye on a specific type yet.

James, it won't be dollar for dollar, maybe 50% of costs, it will be a value that is pretty much in the eye of the beholder compared to the sale comps in a residential valuation.