I like to listen to them in my car when I'm driving to properties and I can get through about 1-2 large size books a week if I'm really focused. 

If you're a single mom with student loans, a car payment, and living paycheck-to-paycheck, then $20,000 would be devastating and a reserve is critical.

I bought a salamander heater once and it came with the cutest little mouse I've ever seen who decided he liked my car. * Woot.com is Amazon's bargain basement and there are deals to be had - like a 250 basement dehumidifier.

I am looking at around $400k but also looking to add around 1000 sqft and preserving the 2 car garage. 

To a multimillionaire or successful investor $100000 is probably like Chum change.... but for somebody like us who drive $2,500 cars and make $20 an hour renting out a basement apartment it was definitely a huge lesson learned and something that will take us years to crawl out of.

When the wolf is at the door looking to bite you with your required daily activities and life's problems, you will need to switch gears like a race car driver really fast and deal with those problems- taking whatever time it takes to make them right.

no real way around it unless your in the business and you can offset some of your interest income with business deductions but you still have to spend the money to deduct it.. although driving to your loans may allow some car write off perhaps.but really your going to make money and pay tax's its better to concentrate on the collateral and a safe investment so you actually have some income to worry about.. 

We converted the upper story of the 3 car garage to a 2/2 and a part of the lower level to a studio. 

Because in 3-4 years when all of the idiots who bought properties financed at 100-110% of value with no money of their own in the deal and cannot afford to put gas in their car finalize realize they have no way out and will lose it all they will then talk about oh me and its not my fault...

It's a 2 car driveway but it will be very tight for two cars.