I have the same problem and after a few of these do not include partners in LLC deals unless I know and trust them and they bring partner level value to the transaction.

Estimated value today is 400K.Values are definitely not back to 05/07 levels, nor should they be.

Often the best way to do this is to work for them on the side during college.

College kids . . . how stupid they were, "didn't you know that sound was water gushing"?

My primary focus area is just west of the area you are focusing on (assuming my assumption is correct) and I would say the average rents are between $1k and $1.5k for a similar sized house.As Will Barnard mentioned, my primary concern would be the sustainability of the rent levels.

But staging I think depends on your location and the pricing level of your property.

First of all, I'm 21 years old in Birmingham, AL, about to graduate college, and I have no debt.

It's just that I do not want to turn away potentially good tenants, as they moved here for a better life, as the son is in college, and the husband has already had a full time job for the time he has been here.

Given your level of question Ben and it's awesome you are asking, I would get your feet wet by trying to do some finding, or what you Americans call bird dogging for somebody who is already an established flipper or wholesaler.If you try and go straight to buying something you may get tripped up on the first simple question a seller asks you.

I am not getting any younger and I see that I am not at that level where I should be in providing for my family and their future.