Not worth my reputation for $25 on a drive-by BPO for me to put my name on some crap report.

He's been driving back every weekend to make sure it's kept up for potential buyers, but I can't even remember the last time I saw a car over there for a showing.

Both of these will drive the prices down over time.Once we get into a 5-6 months supply of inventory from our current, pre-crisis levels - then the type of conversations listing agents have with sellers would have to change.

Order a drive-by appraisal or BPO if necessary.

I drive by to survey the area, schedule a showing then I put in my offer.

You're better off investing in a market that you have a strong chance of achieving your goals than to buy in a sub optimal market just because you can drive by and see your property.

That can have an effect but It generally take more than one project to drive demand and change values especially in larger areas. 

HOA's are like drunken lynch mobs.

Let me give you an example of what I am driving at.  1st thing to understand is your Why!  

The second thing I want to tell you is I'm going to give you a bonus, (he takes out his checkbook, and writes this check out) "and I don't want you to look at it until you sit down to car and drive away, deal?"