Past June of 2013 you will be stuck with the FHA mortgage insurance forever regardless of the value of the property down the road.FHA has been given a mandate by the government to replenish their losses from foreclosures the last few years.

I look for profitable businesses where there is a partner split, health issues, relocation issues, owner has other businesses needing their attention with more risk of loss, divorce, inherited businesses where the children want to liquidate and not run it etc.

I'm sorry for your recent loss Mehran.

If someone comments about my hair loss usually I say "It looks like you have a thick head of hair and I imagine it will stay that way" then I say " Its been said Every time you have a great idea you lose a hair!"

If the current owner is only insuring the building for what he paid for it instead of what it would cost to replace on a total loss, then the rates will be much lower.

I think they are not valuing future appreciation as much as you do, which is understandable.i think its all depend on how much capital you currently have and up to how much can you accept loss. 1m to Bill Gates is nothing compare to an ordinary person.LOL, I think you don't have to be that aggressive though.

In the day and age of Zillow, Trulia, Gmaps etc, the average person may feel an agent is an unnecessary expense.

If your AGI is under $100k and the rentals are generating a passive loss, you can offset some of the ordinary income with up to $25k of passive losses.

Being an investor with 1 deal done had me at a loss for how to strike up a conversation with a room full of professionals.

Sorry for your loss Jon Holdman.