I live close to three lakes in Dfw, shoot me a message if you need feet on the ground here and I can help out.

I'm at the planning phase trying to gain knowledge of the process and the market.

Nope, we want to find the sub-market, the non-conforming market, under ground, the ugly house market, the market where sellers don't pay their taxes or mortgage payments, the market of expired listing (failure market), the market of motivated sellers.We investors are creative, we understand how to find deals, how to control them and how to profit from themWe investors understand alternative creative financing techniques:Delay settlement offersRights of PossessionHybrid contractsSeller participatingSeller financing Joint venturesSubject to financingOptionsWrapsBlanket mortgageThere are always Buyer's Markets to be created, one deal at a time...........if it is going to be it is up to you to create markets to profit from.Happy Hunting......;-)

The biggest take away is you need a solid "boots on the ground" team like what you're looking for.

The bank does the loan knowing one of the partners is local and has "boots on the ground".

All of the above is in tremendous disrepair and the grounds are in a defunct state as well.

I learned to surf during a weekend in Morocco, but never got past the standing and enjoying phase..

I was always fascinated by seeing something being made possible from just an idea on paper.I am hoping this website will provide me with a wealth of invaluable information and advice as I work to be a real estate investor.My very first project (which I'm still in the planning stages of) is my first home which I will use as my springboard/dive in to real estate investing and construction: I am hoping to buy a house in its foreclosure/short sale stage or a fairly run down property and subsequently "remodel" (but really rebuild) from ground up.My budget is tight and could be bordering unrealistic for the type of house I want and the neighborhood I'm looking at, but I don't give up too easily and believe that if I ask enough people enough questions, I can just about make it :)Anyway, that's me!

We use french drains on the exterior at ground level and we tie our gutter downspouts into them.

I have almost all trades by payroll, and anything above 200/day for highly skilled (minimum ground-up commercial capacity) personnel, is generous enough for a days pay.