I just read that 40% of Americans cannot cover a $400 unplanned expense.

Are your friends financially capable of handling 1/2 of the (initial) expenses and any (unplanned for) shortfalls?

if the going rent can't cover all my costs and give me a small profit, it hardly seems worth it -unless i'm banking on appreciation, or rabid squirrels.

No matter what you have to plan for the unplanned.

I had an attorney suggest this to me awhile ago when I was a renter and the management company would not take care of the squirrels living in my roof.

You'd need to have clear answers up-front for unplanned costs and who pays them, who inherits property if one of you dies, what happens to the investment if you break up, etc.

Against a short term view.Lifetime value and the cost of unplanned maintenance has to be included in the equation.Originally posted by "Beachbum":The cvt was good for 20 years, showed great, and was easy to maintain for the tenant.

It sounds like you had some unplanned for expenses so you must have cut back in other ways or had a contingency fund.

Chances are that you will save enough cash to actually make a move before you find something for nothing.But I suppose a blind squirrel can find nut...BTW, BTW, this woman probable gets a few thousand tax return each year and this is tax season.

Primarily return on investment, appreciation is an unplanned for bonus at this stage.