If you are going to buy real estate, sell real estate, invest or act as an agent, there really is some etiquette that goes along with the territory. I get emails and letters from buyers, agents and sellers all asking me to write about this topic.

Last week, I broke down the various price ranges in real estate and what we might expect for the coming year. I mentioned that the 400-800K price range might be the toughest price range to sell for a variety of reasons.

Ok, it’s that time of year again to rub my crystal ball and foretell the coming year in real estate. I should disclose that I am not a professional crystal ball reader so take this interpretation for what it’s worth (totally free, unscientific guess).

If you have been following this column all month, you would know that I have been writing about the fix and flip business as well the fix and rent business. If you would like to re-read any of those columns, you can do so at www.coloradodreamhouse.com/news.

There once was a time when there were so many properties on the market that buying a fix and flip was a piece of cake. Just make an offer, even a low-ball offer, and chances are that you had a deal.

There is no question that Denver enjoyed a good summer selling season. The combination of low inventory, good prices, low interest rates, and pent up buyer demand has most brokerage firms well ahead of last year’s numbers.

All I can say is, “WOW”… in response to last week’s column about my trials in finding a good contractor. I asked the question, “If you are a good contractor, tell me how we find you?” and the readers of this column responded with an overwhelming number of emails.

Chances are, if you have been in the real estate market over the last four years, you would have looked at a foreclosure, bid on a foreclosure, bought a foreclosure or know someone who has.

In part one of How to do Fix and Flips we talked about the hardest part of the equation which is buying the home to flip. In Part two we talk about proper timing and how long you should take in rehabbing the home.

If you want to play in the fix and flip market you better know three things: Buying and selling real estate, home construction/renovation, and marketing.