My biggest losses over the years have almost always come from not slowing down sooner in whatever project I was involved in and *taking care of business*!  

They told me I should just "count it at a loss" Lost $580.

Well, if the missed payments match up with a job loss then you can figure that out.

Yes Texas is great but many markets are exploding so it's more difficult to find good deals and people are willing to grab a deal at a loss just to grab the deal.I'm also looking at Kansas City, and Indianapolis as potential areas as well.

Today:I've never loss the desire to be my own boss and I love real estate and I'm eager to restart my business.

I don't believe the OP was referring to buying the property at half of ARV.  50% Rule typically refers to a ballpark estimate of the expense ratio (including capex and rent loss) for a rental property.So, the question is, are these rental properties that the OP is talking about purchasing?

In this situation I would go with strategy number 2 and try and make up as much of your losses as possible through rent.

They don't sell magic food and don't provide magic pills or a magic program geared toward achieving weight loss.  

I do understand their viewpoint, I have been in business less than two years and am showing a loss on my first tax return (but rent is rolling in and we're doing great, we're just putting cash back into the business).Do portfolio lenders typically offer terms that are more like a conventional mortgage with similar rates?

The seller then took a $60,000 loss on the sale to us as he accepted our lowball 'cash, close in 30' of $135K.