If you want to contribute to redevelopment in some areas, mixed-use is absolutely essential to re-grow Main Streets and upgrade them.

In some cases, it may even generate positive cash flow, allowing you to save or invest the extra income.Build Wealth: Over time, the rental income from the basement apartment can contribute to your overall wealth-building strategy.

Make sure your advisor has a full picture of the contributions your rentals make to your finances and will make to your future finances.

I bought my first property with an FHA loan, and the real estate agent I hired offered to contribute some commissions to closing costs, which meant I was somewhere around $9k out of pocket to buy that first house.That was almost my entire life savings at the time, but the home was recently remodeled and this was in 2011 so home prices were very deflated.

Thanks everyone that contributed.

You might write up your offer at $100k purchase price, asking the seller to contribute $7k to your buyer closing costs.   

Money becomes very relevant at the time of purchase; especially if there is not an equal contribution.

I'm also willing to contribute my time and skills if anyone is looking for an extra pair of hands -- just looking to learn from shadowing and practical experience. 

Once you have self-income, and if you don't have employees, you can set up a Solo 401K (and Solo 401K Roth), the best option of SDIRA options, and contribute tax-deferred/free $69,000 per year (and $69K for your wife, if she's a managing partner in the PM LLC), thus setting aside a big chunk for more investments (private lending, notes, syndications, even more houses).

Thank you for contributing on this thread.