As far as the MLS, I meant that when there is a good flip opportunity, all the investors of the area are bidding on it and pushing up the price.

I'll have to hold off on the REIA meetings as I'm not sure where I will be next and won't be back for a while now.As for your buddy, was he already settled into an area of investing while deployed?

(not 100% sure of the nuances of a short sale)If the sellers are in need of a short sale, they don't have the strongest negotiating position...I might ask for more time for the stated purpose, or you might have to withdraw....If they push back perhaps offer more consideration ie: maybe you put more earnest money into the pot to show how serious you are or maybe pay for an option?

It takes awhile, but once you close a few deals with them, they are a lot more willing to work with you and push your offers through.As far as the double closing goes- I don't see why it would be any different if they were both local.

I plan to go back in a few minutes to work--paint two closets, and the front door, wash other doors, see about washing the grout in the floor. ofgift

When you pull credit your legally bound to send them a pre-formatted rejection letter - the site I use to pull creidt does that for me automatically - I just tell them I deny this person and push print on the letter and drop it in the mail.I have never heard your legally bound to tell them your criteria upfront - but you are bound to say why you refused them if you pulled their credit (or had someone else pull it).

So yes, I do have a regular job as back up as I have restructured my business into doing mainly short sales and wholesale for cash flow with the intent of pushing those funds into rental income properties.

You can only push me so far before I'll drop out myself, and focus my formerly productive talents on bartering, working under the table, collecting benefits due to my 'poverty', and milking the system that's been sucking off my paychecks for the last 20+ yearsWouldn't take very many of us at all to build a critical mass, that camel's back will break sooner than later :-)Sigh, a man can daydream can't he?

If there was any water problem, the underlying ground would/could be washed away.

I think these are very welcome changes with the intent definately to push short sales as opposed to allowing the property to get all the way to REO status.