I use this as an opportunity to "Drive for Dollars", just by foot, and decided that it was time to send out a few handwritten notes.

Very few markets have rates below $0.50 per square foot per month as long as the property is clean enough and well run though most of my experience is on my side of the Mississippi:)!

Avoid the section where you talk to someone and they try to sell you countertops per square foot.

I do believe it's as simple as "No" with no explanation but again, as soon as you start to talk about how she has kids.. it could become a situation where she feels discriminated against for having kids.Unless it's a big place square foot wise.

I wouldn't touch a condo with a ten foot pole.

Enjoy the times you are going downhill, and keep your head down and put one foot in front of the other on the uphill.”On the downhill- focus of improving your systems (contractors, improving systems, maintenance).On the uphill- do whatever it takes.

Do not pay for your child’s education.  

It's a little strange, but it gives the child a "better" sense of normalcy than having to go through the hassle of this week being at Mom's, and next week being at Dad's. 

I also believe their fence is a foot on my side of property line on either side of the barn.  

With auction.com, you cannot set foot in the property, so the bank can hide issues.So, in summary, if you know that you are willing to go the long haul and rehab the property no matter what the case may be, you must get it at a price that meets the expectation of “everything must be fixed”.