Lately I've gotten promo offers for their 5/1 and 7/1 ARM loans.

It has been for me, where I was forced to open walls and dig up part of a finished basement for inspections.

Many contractors NEVER learn how to do it correctly and spend a career in poverty because of it.GOOD investors, landlords, RE buyers, tend to 'get the jist' of basic (or even pretty advanced) estimating through force of experience (Renovate a dozen properties and you will get the idea or you'll go out of business).

So, if you put 20% down, prices fall by 10% and you're forced to sell, you'll walk away with nothing.

J Scott is probably one of the smartest guys I know in this industry and he really helped me get my arms around this last week when i was first informed about these encumbrance restrictions placed on the loans.

Mandeep -- it has to be an "arms length" transaction, can't involve a relative.

The most forced appreciation will be on vacant and semi-performing value add deals ( an exception might be selling off to a developer as an exit for a higher use) but trying doing that from states away is a much bigger challenge than in your own back yard.Do you have time??

Its a forced savings account with a generous dividend yield.

Pretty sure its at least a year, unless you can show some reason that forced the move.

You can force appreciation by updating kitchens, baths, etc., if the numbers make sense and you can increase the rent but otherwise I would leave it alone.