Chris, when you say 95% of brokers are eliminated for not being able to provide successful transaction references, are you referring to actual mortgage brokers, or are you referring to the people that attend a “cash flow” seminar and believe  the easy money hype? 

The other 10% are scammers, or have mental issues, or have perpetual money problems, or are career criminals, or psychopaths, or have massive entitlement issues, lack anger management, or are spousal abusers, or can’t hold a job, or don’t want to work, etc.  

Quote from @Greg Grisez: Quote from @James Wise: Ya know, I'm surprised nobody has brought up the obvious to you here.

There are pros and cons depending on your goals.Why an LLC Might Be a Good Move• Helps protect your personal assets in case of a lawsuit• Makes it easier to bring in partners in the future• Keeps your real estate finances separate from personal accountsWhy It Might Not Be the Right Move Just Yet• Most traditional lenders will not give a mortgage to an LLC, so you may have to use commercial or DSCR loans, which usually have higher rates• Some people assume an LLC will save them money on taxes, but rental income is still taxed as pass-through income for most investors• There are extra costs like annual filing fees and bookkeepingA lot of new investors get stuck on this decision, but the reality is, you can always start out in your personal name and transfer properties into an LLC later.One more thing I wish someone told me early on is that property management takes more time than you think.

If I get the money in 2025, could I then use the other 90% as a capital loss on that year's taxes?  

Explore my personal favorites, Set For Life by Scott Trench or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, for invaluable financial insights.3.

I also practice as a Realtor because I enjoy it and it is extra income.So as an investor, your options are to get your RE license and have access to a lot of tools and do the research yourself (therefore you're paying with time, energy and a little money) or you work with a great realtor/investor in the specific market you're looking into.

fee of $5,000 to which I responded, "with all the money out there seeking a place to be, why would I need Lendbase to shop for a loan for me?".

At that value, you'll make the money back on resale, if not also on the appraisal. 

Thanks for the replies.Yea I didn’t take any of the grant money from the sonyma loan.