Yep : ). We have been best friends the last few years, and something just changed in me late last year and I started seeing her in a different light. It's fantastic. Funny how everyone on my blog thought we should date and it took me forever to figure that out! Actually, the timing is more right now. It would have been much more difficult say a year ago.

I think they are viewed as better than walking away from the home, but they are still viewed very negatively.

I don't know what I was thinking. I was just thinking that if I could lower my payment, it might be worth at least looking into. Plus, I honestly wanted to know if I could just get approved or not. It was the first real credit I've applied for in years, and I wanted to see how much I've screwed myself in that department.

I post my mistakes here often. I don't think this is anything new : )

I've paid off the first WA state tax line. Did that about a week ago. Felt great. Also, I'm working on disputing the IRS debt now. I totally did my taxes wrong when I calculated that, my accountant thinks that debt can go away. I'm hopeful there.

Also, with my mother, I've been sending $800 a month lately. I can only send $13K a year without gift tax implications. In talking with my accountant it looks like I may be able to give a little bit of my company too her and repay her more through shareholder earnings in that way. We'll see.

2bd condos in Seattle are still 250-300K range. And that's outside downtown. Little cottages are in the 300K range....and we are talking 1000 sq. feet. It's still kinda nuts.

A.) good point. B.) Not a big fan of retirement planning stuff right now, maybe down the line, but honestly, right now I can earn way more by investing in myself and my business than looking at retirement plans. It's just not my cup of tea, maybe I'd do some IRA real estate investing at some point, but that is way off.

C.) I hope in 24 months to have a small place. Good goal.

OK, let me get into all this great questions....

I am working on rebuilding my credit score. I have two "rebuilder" type credit cards that I am keeping a small balance (like $15 on each) on and paying each month. I feel good about my business' long term prospects. I've learned a lot and am executing well there.

Awesome! Glad you are having a good experience.

Hey Zintradi ~ Well, between my LC salary and what I'm paying myself from my business I now exceed the 70K mark very easily. The net worth is a little trickier, but not really when you look at my personal balance sheet. Nearly all my debt is under the business and all personal liability was wiped out in my bk. My "debt" to my mother is technically just my word, it was actually discharged in my bk as well. So technically I actually have no liabilities on my personal side besides my student loans. Now, add in the value of my small business and my ownership there, and I think I meet the requirements, well, I actually know that I do. Of course the business is not a very liquid asset, but it works in this calculation.

I think you are right, there are probably some deals right now where you could actually be cash flow positive on a rental in some markets. You just gotta have the cash....