I've purchase most of my deals in the last 2 years via this method and haven't run into any issues but I'm definition interested in hearing why you say be careful.Josh

Use a mortgage / deed of trust, real estate contract or whatever method gives you title in your area.  

I'd suggest doing a search here and reading up on various methods and opinions.

If so - What is the best method to determining an appropriate offer without knowing how much damage exists that is both a good deal for me (20% after repair value equity is the goal) but not too much of a low ball to where they aren't willing to listen. 

The one unit that does not have a w/d hookup has a laundry room on the same floor.Hot tubs I can see as a liability, unless it was a high-end rental.I forgot to mention one of my main methods of sprucing up a rental.

"BTW : Your method is not newBTW2 : There are tons of golf deals out there that need new financing.

Staying focused is another challenge, in order to stay on task and make tangible results in business building, without getting side-tracked too much by business methods or deals that don't fall into line with what you are currently trying to master.My own personal challenges involve dealing with working a day job, being a husband & father to 2 small children, having a wife who also works (part-time), and an elderly person we take care of (wife's grandma).

You can sell either property but a lender isn't going to release collateral to put themselves in a higher risk position, so the release fee here would be at least 50K, more likely 60K, reducing their remaining exposure while allowing the borrower some room to profit or retain cash.Doing these the borrower needs to have a specific release fee described or some method of assigning a value, such as 50% LTV.

You'll find that those seduced by the myth of progress and the chronological snobbery it breeds don't like Mike Ferry because his methods are insufficiently new.

I have had many people send me emails through this method, so I know its working for a lot of people all over the country.