I've heard people refer to the return on T-bills as the risk free rate, but even that's contingent on the government remaining solvent :)There's no way I'd go through the trouble of operating income properties for a 10% return either.. and I'd like to assume most others wouldn't either.. although seeing some of the price to rent ratios for recent sales around the nicer suburbs in my area makes me question that assumption sometimes...All in all the thrust of the argument was that a reasonably competent investor should not have much trouble securing, at the very minimum, a 10% return on their capital without taking on excessive risk or administrative burden. 

I cannot imagine anyone has a utility that reduces their monthly bills, and the discussion of aesthetics seems to diminish as the cost gap widens between fossil fuel derived power and solar power. 

You could argue it's backed by fossil fuels. 

Will there be excess supply of houses in the years to come after the baby boomers are no longer living in single family housing?

Additionally, when completing the refi the reason supplied for doing the cash Out Refi would raise some eyebrows I would presume, but I figured the bank would just ensure those people are actually paid off much like they would with a reason being for a cash out to pay off or consolidate debt with me keeping the excess cash.

I am in Pittsburgh so I dont know if the process is different in your area but sometimes you cant sell the property with good title for up to 1 year so your holding costs can be excessive.

I agree that charging each landlord $250 to maintain this list is excessive.

To address that, we underwrite our deals to a 10 year hold, with 10 year financing and excess cash reserves.

An umbrella policy provides excess liability coverage above and beyond your underlying policies for those worst case scenarios.

I see many duplexes with shared fuel.