Although lately I've been getting outbid by owner occupants (smartly) taking advantage of Homesteps and other similar programs.

Your friend would then be an owner occupant and be entitled to additional expenses and you being paid off.If you have had official notice of intent, then this plan is out the window, except that you could show any recent sale agreement to establish a willing and able buyer.

I may be mistaken, but I thought that the HomePath stuff was geared toward owner occupants getting the favored treatment.

(rentals.com, MLS, PM, etc.)This home will rent in the $1,200 - $1,300 range in a nicer community of approx 85% owner occupancy, so I do not expect a large volume of drive by visibility here.

As with any occupation , you are always going to have shady individuals - but that does not apply towards to your typical Realtor.

Ken,To answer the other part of your question, pulling equity out to make another investment/purchase is certainly the right thing to do so long as you buy within your means and correctly to fit your strategy.Having a second or third or 100th property gives you more tax deductions, more properties to appreciate (both market and forced), and gives you more doors to better your occupancy ratio.

You are expected to work and over 80% of the occupants of Dubai come from other countries with the largest India, with 27%.

Your breakeven occupancy will be better than a duplex.You have more units paying the mortgage that way and the risk is spread out among 3 tenants performing instead of just 1.

Sometimes it's because the seller/listing agent doesn't want to disturb the occupant.

Watch out for rent concessions or waiving the security deposit to make occupancy look high.Have you seen the schedule E tax returns yet??