I like your suggestions and it is very informative I appreciate you for you sharing your expertise.  I still think there is a lot of profit in this market, with all the foreclosures that opens up the preforeclosure opportunities ending up in short sales if done right are very profitable.  The market in Chicago is still strong and it has seen a GROWTH not a decline in the last year or so even though several markets have seen a slump.  We have seen growth of 1-3% even in this market.  I am a property Location in ILlinois and specialize in finding investors, rehabbers, hard money lenders, and other institutions the right investments both residential and commercial.