@Todd Powell  this question comes up often on BP.. since its a major focus of so many who are members of this site.I find that its highly regional.. with some out in the very low cost of living MId west saying they can live on 3 to 5k a month.common theme though is 10k a month I would say 50 to 75% of people that respond that's their magic number. 

@Dan Krupa, we have a portfolio of houses in the nether regions of the oil patch in Texas, and coastal Central Florida...Clearwater and  the Melbourne area. 

I purchased another note In June from larger regional bank in CA that again took 6 months of communication for a sale to take place.  

Also talk to local or regional banks about construction loans on existing properties.That being said, pre-crash, 75% of the properties we bought were REOs off the MLS. 

Typically they want a lot more down 20-30%Your best bet is a mortgage broker who is familiar with investor financing, or smaller local regional banks. 

Hi - I recently bought a foreclose in Lakes Region (Gilford) that I am planning to rent to my Mom (so not looking to cut corners too severely). 

Think small regional banks.

@ Katherine Stochosky  Right here on Bigger Pockets, there is a little known, hard to find page where national and regional REO Banks are linked.

They are mostly regional or statewide banks.

This will very significantly from market to market, diff utility costs, harsher weather regions more maintenance snow blowing etc, but for just comparing two properties in the same area it doesn’t mater as long as you use the same multiplier.