We don't have that functionality currently available, but we'll discuss it to see if it is something worth implementing.

Write down your goals and the strategy you will implement to get there then to the next step.

I want monthly cash flow and want to target a specific cash-on-cash return.So typically, I know people reply and give great ideas on how to beef up one's knowledge in real estate.

Consult some good financial management advisory council in Toronto like KPMG and hit your target.

First its all in teh list and the more targeted the list the better the results.So a list that targets all home owners is going to not do as well as a list that might target something specific like:Out of State Owners - where you might get people who have moved away or inherited a house they don't want or burned out landlordsUnpaid Taxes - where people are in financial difficulty and going to loose their house to unpaid taxesOwned for a Long Time - where the people might own free and clear orHigh Equity Owners - again free and clearOr even other lists that you might build yourself -Expired MLS LIstings - people who want to sell but did notNOD - people who are have received a notice of defaultLate Pays - people late on their mortgageGarage & Estate Sales - people moving out of their houseAs for a good letter, I have recently used a yellow letter company for a simple I want to buy your house and they make a "handwritten" letter on legal pad paper, fold it weird to put in a thank you card size envelope, with a "handwritten" address, and grandmaesque return address label.It gets opened more, but we do get a lot of calls with people saying they don't want to sell or that we should say we are a company.We tested the straight Dear Mr Jones, we want to buy your house at 123 mainstreet with out our company name or website, just to call us . . that generated more calls than the letter that just went out that added in that we are an investment company and they can call or visit our website . . . can't tell if the results were much different.And personally, you can get all kinds of results, but it comes down to it, you want the motivated people to call you and those people are going to find you letter or not - if you have a website.

Thought has been lingering, but not implemented it.

I believe I'm at the point where I need to start developing a business plan so I can have a hard target to aim for as I accumulate my first down payment!  

I feel as though our inexperience made us easy targets.  

What type of areas are you targeting?

Some of these issues are rather straightforward, but depending on your tax situation there may be entity structures that you can implement that will make the investments more effective and tax efficient.