With an understanding of reasonable offer prices, market comparables, and contracts, as well as a decent (I think) network of investors, do you think it is reasonable to start making offers?

I am also about 500 meters from what they call the new "downtown" and investments overall have been exploding in my direct area (keep in mind this is a city of about 375 000 souls so it's definitely not NYC type of downtown but it's still a MAJOR change compared to what has happened in the last 20 years or so) I am curious as to what all these changes will bring me in terms of property appreciation?

Can't hurt to do both, point being is don't be sold on realtor hype - but the local realtors no doub thave great knowledge.Perhaps do it in the reverse order so that you have more petinent local questions to ask the realtor on the bus tour.Local REIA is a good suggestion as well.If by emerging you mean not in your traditional big metro hubs and areas that are growing in jobs and population, I tend to think and hear alot about Missouri, Colorado, Alabama, the Carolinas, and of course Texas (but when so many people are touting texas it makes me wonder if prices may be a bit inflated - perhaps it's just BPers that are privvy to the "Texas Train")Nothing like bringing life to an old thread..

They will have more felxible terms than the traditional lenders.

The difference between the water bill and property tax bill compared to all others is that not paying the water and property tax bills can result in a lien being placed on your property (this may not be true in all areas, but is true in all of the areas in which I invest).

For all of the SFH that I have looked at so far, the numbers do not work out for rentals (on their own), especially when you compare them to the MFH.

You've now put in about $90K.Over the next couple months, you work with a traditional property lenders to refinance the property and take $80K out.

Most bankers (regional banks in cali) I'm talking to tell me they don't want to touch anything under 1.20 - this actually often means more than 20% down for investment properties here in cali, but I think you can find some gems that have a better ratio.That said, BofA traditionally has never been hungry for any kind of business, I rarely work with those guys when you have all the regional banks that really want to earn your business...JR

Dated: June 25, 2008"Seasoning" for short sale, as compared to foreclosure, is TWO years, not FIVE years as with foreclosure.I'm amazed...but there it is in black and white in unequivocal language.

Aside from all the arguingThere's no arguing, we're just comparing our analysis techniques.