So far it's all manageable IMO and the economic climate has been mostly ho hum, plus/minus.  

You've already figured out that the deal, as presented by the seller, is a no-brainer, grand slam home run.  

Hope your Europe trip was grand!

I went "full time" immediately and learned to live on less than a grand a month.

Yes, there are turnkey investments where for a few grand you can get into a house.

Bill, I just finished up writing an insurance claim on the south side of Chicago, about 15 minutes from where Kaye lives, where thieves stole two semi tractor trailers (about 80 grand worth) of metals from a metal recycling plant.

Hi everyone,I am based in Grand Rapids, MI, am just getting started in the world of real estate investing, and am currently looking for properties in the area.

A few months later, I refinanced with another lender back up to $125K purchase price at 7% so I'm basically into the property for closing costs and fees; a few grand at the most, but I've captured a solid $75K net equity.

Earlier this year I structured a VA deal with literally $0 cash to close (except for due diligence inspection costs paid to inspectors hired by the buyer, which are unrelated to the financing and technically optional though still a good idea), the veteran was refunded even their earnest money deposit at the closing table, and we paid down a car loan a few grand with net proceeds from the purchase of a home to boot.Yup, "net proceeds from home purchase" used to pay down a car loan.

Anything over a grand a month in Memphis is big money.