We were shocked at the difference some real estate agents put in their listings versus the condition of the house. 

Give yourself a week or two if possible before any money changes hands as I'm always shocked what sellers don't tell me.

(my parents gave me a deal when they got divorced)....but I plan to use the equity from this house to get a credit line to buy more cars/downpayment on my next propertyI've got pretty good credit, and it'll be excellent when I get the cars off my credit cards and the like (thats what I want to use my credit line for)....debt to income ratio and credit utialization/balances near my maxes looks bad :crying: but hey, gotta finance the cars somehow.....Also it'll help me put my credit score up in the high 7/low 8 range, I'm thinking.....I'm low 7's now....but the higher I get it the easier I think it'll help me on my real estate ventures......I don't wanna just flip houses, but I'd like to get some capital quick on top of the cars......and eventually start expanding my portfolo with SFH's, MFH's, and some apartment buildings...then finally buy/build an apartment complex...Any other tips/etc I'll take as REI is new to me...I mean I really haven't even done my first deal yet :shock: Its coming tho!

I'm becoming increasingly familiar with the Concord/Pleasant Hill/Walnut Creek area and am also familiar with Alameda County.I'd be interested in talking to you and seeing how we might be able to help one another.    

My best and most pleasant investment experiences have been without the partner. 

I was pleasantly surprised to find out the law started January 1, 2015.

These times represent some of the best opportunities of real serious hard core investors we have seen in decades.However, the next few years are going to be very hard and the changes coming out of the current economic situation will be very long lasting and not too pleasant for those who always live on the edge.These are the rainy days your grandmother told you to save for.

Now where the trend in site built is to expand the house and shrink the lot - so that outdoor space is all but gone and what there is is never used because it has no privacy, offsite presents the great opportunity to include large, pleasant, private garden like courtyards situated between each  home.      

I would raise the rents incrementally instead of all at once, that will lessen the shock..but just do it.You are running a business, not a charity. 

You could be the renovator yourself and if you got an inspection you'd be shocked at what you needed to do based on the inspection.