When I was trying to determine demand for our area, I selected about 20 listings near the location I was focused on, and tracked them for several months.

A reserve is unnecessary, but I still keep around $15,000 - $20,000 in my account.The point is, that you should sit down and assess your finances to determine what the worst-case scenario may look like, how much you would need to cover it without impacting your life, and whether you will need to build a reserve.

Comparable sales is how the value is determined.

A temperature sensor is placed on the incoming and outgoing hot/cold water lines to determine the BTUs consumed.

Consult a lender to determine the best option for your goals.IF you want to preserve section 121, you should think abt selling your hour to S-corp.

Your success in real estate will be determined by you ultimately.

I personally like to look at every investment opportunity for the viability of the investment and then determine if better for Self-Directed IRA/401k, or if better for non-IRA funds.

Whether it be a real estate deal or a note deal, we always determine multiple exit strategies and what the downside risk is before making an offer. 

It's essential to determine your long-term goals and decide whether cash flow or long-term appreciation is more important.Good luck!

You need to determine if you want to prioritize cash flow vs appreciation.