There will be much more government spending and jobs created in Mcallen to secure the border, leading to continued population growth.

Are you thinking government spending is going to actually get cut and inflation was just a flash in the pan? 

If that is you, stop all of it and spend at least one hour every day looking at deals during the week and 5 hours on the weekend driving around and looking at listings and neighborhoods!

Spend a year working for him and solving all his headaches. 

You might be unrealistic on what you have to spend, or you're looking at the wrong types of deals. 

A real estate pro is spending their time in real property business.

It might be more that you are willing to spend to get a good place.

The 500-hour rule means spending at least 500 hours actively managing your rental property, which could include things like tenant communication, maintenance, and bookkeeping.You can also group multiple properties together as one “activity” to make reaching the hours easier.

We've had it happen before, nothing major, but just some extra money we weren't originally planning on spending to turn a unit. 

Stop hanging out with your deadbeat buddies who spend all day drinking, talking sports, and otherwise wasting away.