I won't offer more the $18K... too many maintenance issues to reward the current owner.Best of luck!

In a business where few people are 100% honest, those that are honest in all their dealings are rewarded with loyal clients, partners, investors and transaction parties.

Offer the proprietors of those shops a "reward" for any eventual buyer who mentions that shop as referring the buyer.Some other BP links somewhat related to this topic:http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/312/topics/50809-please-help-need-some-ideas-on-selling-homehttp://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/93/topics/43640-ideas-for-selling-a-wholesale-property-in-a-week

Anyway, I don't think you'll want to be a lender when you find out all the barriers to entry in this arena.You'd probably be better off getting with brokers like Marc, Loc and Will, get into purchasing existing notes if you really want higher yields, but it doesn't really matter what you invest in, there will always be a risk and reward aspect, nothing is easy.

The harder I grind, the sweeter success, and the more I will help others to see the rewards of TRUE HARD WORK (Lead by example).

I've been in a very rewarding partnership with an elephant (lots money, slow to react, and preferring to remain in the background) for four years now.

Agreed with Many of the posts - but it's like anything else - the more risk the more POTENTIAL reward....Ex - A company in Harrisburg is started buying block and blocks of condemned props in a pretty crappy neighborhood...

Either you have demonstrated ability to do it successfully many times over or you put up a large chunk of your own cash so YOU take the first loss, not me.Investing is about balancing risk and reward.

I determine the amount of reward I expect from the risk.-- Now, I can determine the value of the property based upon what I plan to do and not what others are doing to other properties.This is certainly not the only method, nor will it work for everyone.

The bigger the 'risk', the bigger the reward in some of the other areas.