This reserve price I have found out comes in two categories: hard and soft (just ask).

Stay strong, STAY POSITIVE, be creative, learn, brush off the negativity, take advice from people who HAVE DONE WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO, and above all, live your life the way YOU want to live your life!

We actually went under contract on a 4plex but it didn't appraise (market was still soft then) so we couldn't close on it.

I give him paint brush hes 4 and scrape wood to paint etc.

Soft landing is being predicted now in the near term for RE (1-3 years) generally.  

There were tooth brushes and shave cream in each bathroom.

Painting all contractors ( or even most of them) with a broad brush of con men is like saying all RE Investors are just out to be slum lords and only care about the money and Flippers are selling you junk houses with paint jobs.  

Experts, more often than not, were calling for a "soft landing." 

Around here in rowhouse territory it's pretty common, bad foundations on soft ground, bulging facades, entire buildings leaning on their neighbor.

Do Hard Money brushed me off because I questioned their $2500 up front fee.