From your experience, are most investors buying residential packages pricing properties at the market value  or are you buying them based on a cap rate based on the rent and expenses? 

Obviously we have been in touch with our lodger who filled us in on the scoop but I was surprised to find very little info on incarcerated California lodgers, does NoLo address this and in either case what are the obligations of the owner(s) who rented to the lodger who is now incarcerated indefinitely as far as security deposit, notification of repossession of rented premises, and the handling of personal belongings? 

Some items, like investment securities, were exempted from the beginning, but for the most part it would be very difficult for Congress to exclude all forms of tax free like kind exchanges without having structural consequences to the tax code.It may be possible that the NAR article was saying that real estate professionals may not want to bother with these deals.  

I have sought to get loans in one country to purchase in another but it is very difficult to get aproval for such projects without security in the country of the loan.Any thoughts on leverage regarding investing in multiple countries?

.,  certain professions get a very low security deposit.  

Believe it or not you can get this entire appliance package for under $2,000 to $2,500.

What is the best route to ensure that our money is backed/secured - promissory note and mortgate?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.Thank you,SteveIf there are multiple secured liens on the house, it depends on who is foreclosing. 

My question is should I make my offer and worry about getting financing later or secure pre-approval first?

With market rents, coming up with first/last/security deposit can approach $10k in some neighborhoods, which can be a difficult check to write even for professionals.