Purchase for 80K with a retail of 110-115k?  

The retail buyers really come out starting in March!

You are paying 17k above retail.

A smaller version of that massive facility is still there but now surround by many new homes and retail outlets that grew out of that merger.In reference of capital flight from countries like Russia, China and Brazil I believe that money is flowing into the US because the referenced economies are doing poorly. 

They tend not to be updated.Most of short sales and foreclosures are priced above retail 

It's also a pretty insignificant amount of money for Lowes, as you're only taking 10% off of retail and that is only materials.

Instead, invest in yourself: Get a brokerage license and learn about doing commercial deals (apartment buildings are generally the easiest, but you could consider office and retail also). 

I see people (my competition) bidding almost retail prices for these houses, and I can't believe it.

If you buy a property correctly (not retail/market price), you can use a hard money lender to buy and rehab the house, then refinance into a traditional 30 year mortgage.

I'm talking about good ol retail people!