(this is a nationwide phenomenon though), yet vacant homes up here also get the aluminum sideing ripped off, furnace, hot water heater stolen etc. and then it's sold for scrap or whatever?

Hey Whytehouse,Ryan is 100% correct but you will need a few thing to make sure the Loss Midigatior will even look at your package.1) You would want to get all the information listed below before you even call the Loss Midigatior2) You would want it in a 3 ring Navy Blue binder-Not White-(2 Copies) With Hedder Pages and Avery insertable dividers (8 Tabs) to seperate the sections I use Model # 11901.3) After you have the packages put together you would then Call the Loss Midigator and request his Name and Mail Stop because you are sending them the package by NEXT-DAY-AIR(FED-EX) and for them to keep an eye out for it.

All I really wanted to convey is if it is a hot project and you believe in it, start (or continue) looking at your local private money options.

Particularly important in your part of the country in light of price hikes for heating oil and the high cost to replace.Central air, I'm not sure how many have that up there.Sufficient insulation and the right type.Roof.

For example, we made it through May and June (with temps in the 90's) without a single tenant having an air conditioning issue.

It says, "Service work requested: Air conditioner not working.

I figure to sell it for the same $70K as the others.This is why you WAIT when things are too hot for you to PROFIT.

ok I have this place that I'm looking at for my own personal home. it's REO and listed with an agent, they are asking 197k for it.its 3br/2ba, 1660 sq ft...theres confusion on that too I've seen an old mls from 2002 stating it was 1800sqft tax roll shows 1660 2br/1 baththe property is another issue, this broker says it 1.1 ac, the prop survey is showing 4.5ac, an old mls has it as 3.5 ac...so it really needs a survey to be sure. i know for sure it's much more than 1.1acanyway, its a modular home, either 1994 or 1999 depending on who you believe. it needs some repair, new air unit for sure (3k), new kitchen (3k)probably carpet, paint, mostly cosmetic. so i figured 15k for conservative figures. comps in the area are going for about 190-230k in full working order. it's tough to calculate ARV when the surrounding area varies from 80k to 1.5milso this is what i calculated.....195k and its an REO, so 30-40% off or 70% or arv = 136.5k - repairs (new heat/air 3k. carpet 2k , paint 1k , kitchen 3k, 9k not including what I havent seen) I figured bout 15k to be safe. which brings me to 136.5 (-15k) =121,500 fair value depending on the amount of property could be another 15-30k an acre depending on who it belongs to .

Hi bs73,While it is true that the market conditions nationwide are not as HOT as they were a couple of years ago, and indeed, some areas are declining, there are lots of areas in the country that are doing just fine, and some areas that are booming!

So some investors really would just like a lead and not an agreed contract if they feel they can negotiate a better deal than a birddog (most birddogs are new and not that good at negotiating a RE deal as they are learning).A variation that can work if there is a bit of trust....The spotter finds a hot prospect.