In VA, I think you have to look further out, as everything within a stone's throw of DC will be more about an appreciation play than cash flow.

As an out-of-area owner, I doubt you'll have any luck getting a local bank in Detroit to work with you on a portfolio loan, period, before even throwing in the issue of the short sale (which takes you out of contention for any sort of conventional loan, as you said).Have you shaken the bushes with friends, relatives, aunts/uncles, business/professional contacts, that might do a 3-yr balloon note at 8-9%, 70% LTV, until you are eligible for a conventional refinance.

Thought I'd throw this out to the forum and see what came back.

My job was to walk along next to a truck and throw the watermelons to a man that was on top of the truck.

What you are doing is throwing up a bunch of pretty walls without any foundation and it will cave in!

Seems frivolous and my attorney agrees so I'm not all that worried about it.Basically a homeowner that had(chose) to replace a heating system not long after she bought the place.Looks like they are just throwing stuff against the wall to see if it will stick, but of course if they actually file suit you never know what could happen.Anyway not looking for opinions on my "case" as much as would like to hear people's stories about the time someone threatened to sue them.Seems like a fun topic to let people vent about!

No changing of carpet either...they can put a throw rug over it if they don't like it, and they have.

Also, if you throw some numbers at us, we can advise a little better- what your payments are, taxes, insurance, what rent you could get.

It seems like an obvious decision, but thought I'd throw it out there to you guys and gals for opinions.I purchased a house here in southern California in 2010 as my primary residence and it became a rental a year later due to relocation.

You got to throw some golf magazines on the night stand so she doesn't think your to crazy.