Finally: *DO NOT* let tenants attempt to fill holes or do touch up themselves.

We try to help them as best we can, but then our name gets trashed when they don't get their paper results - because you know, EVERYTHING is the PMCs fault.

I warn them that a cancellation - for any reason - will result in charges.

But that was probably only a handful of us.so I agree with you, the large education programs tend to be more expensive and tend to produce lower results.

When we moved, we turned it into a rental, hoping this would be the start of our real estate journey—something we’d like to continue once my husband retires.Some key details:My husband is active duty and will retire in 3 years.We have one final move coming up this summer to Raleigh, NC.Our current debts are crippling us—the high interest makes it tough to stay afloat every month.The plan me and my husband are thinking bout:Sell the rental property.Use the proceeds to pay off all our debts, set aside emergency funds and a down payment for our next home.Free up $1,500/month from debt payments, and that also can stash in a high-yield savings account.Regain full VA loan entitlement, allowing us to purchase a multifamily home and use the house hacking strategy for up coming move.Avoid capital gains tax, since April marks five years of ownership, and the tenant’s lease ends in May.This wasn’t our original plan, and we hate the idea of using our equity to pay off debt.

Verifying last 2 years of rental history and income extremely important to find the “best of the worst”.Make sure you understand the Class of properties you are looking at and the corresponding results to expect.Thank you @Michael Smythe this is very helpful! 

This creates two loan payments ($100,000 of equity and $300,000 on the new mortgage).Key NumbersHome Equity Loan Interest Rate: 6%Mortgage Interest Rate: 7%Rental Income: $3,000 per monthExpenses (management, taxes, insurance, maintenance): $800 per monthIncome and ExpensesMonthly Rental Income: $3,000Monthly Expenses: $800Monthly Mortgage Payment: $2,000ExplanationThe investor earns $3,000 in rent each month.They pay $2,000 on the investment property mortgage and $800 on other expenses.This leaves $200 profit each month or $2,400 per year.However, you have to pay $6,000 interest on the equity borrowed.This leaves you with an annual loss of $3,600.While the rental property generates positive monthly income, the interest cost of borrowing the initial $100,000 results in an overall loss.

.: Quote from @Jamie Parker: Finally got a walk thru of the property, now I don’t want to make an offer.This year I have been very intentional about input:- Phone calls- Conversations- NetworkingAfter a conversation with a large local home buyer in Memphis, I found a property that may fit their model.

Sometimes new investors try and look in 5 markets at once which is like drinking from a fire hydrant and results in nothing happening because they get overwhelmed.

We’ve been working towards this for a few years, and it is very exciting to finally see the fruit of our labor!