For now this seems to match my current situation/investing goals the best.

Excellent podcast, by-the-way.Thanks,Mike

Doesn't hurt to tell the person in the call center that you've got a balance transfer offer from XYZ Bank and wanted to see if they could match it since they're your preferred CC company.I used to do this when I was in college purely for arbitrage - borrow $10K and put it in a savings account at 3-5% interest.

You might be better off staying in the house for 5 years and look upon the grant as an excellent start as you already have equity in your home.

Google and see what you can find, zillow has an excellent marketplace/rating system for different mortgage providers.Also, do you really need a realtor experienced in foreclosures?

You also want the following:personal property and equipment inventorycopies of all service contractsany available blueprints or surveyscopies of any equipment warrantiescopies of all leases and a rent roll ( the two should match up)list of security deposits (should match leases)list of employees and salaries (contracts if any)have all the building systems inspectedpersonally walk every unit (verify they are occupied and overall condition)I would get a phase 1 environmental for a property that large, if sellers can provide one greatThese are after you have signed a purchase agreement.

Hi Amin, after reading your post and all the excellent comments, here are my five cents: I have NEVER submitted an offer on the phone!

Based on the interest generated during a free giveaway period I did with local investors, there appears to be a lot of interest and I have gotten some excellent feedback on it.

Thanks for all your help and excellent counsels and advices, highly valued.

I've always been interested in becoming financially successful - and after an undergraduate, and masters degree - I realize my best opportunity is NOT in corporate America :) I've always been a reader on finance, investing, real estate - so this is a match made in heaven.I'm going to be buying my first home in the next 12 months - so I'm hoping I can make a wise decision that could also double as an investment now, or down the road.