I have entertained the idea of getting my real estate license (so we could be saving money on our buys and sells) as well as helping take care of the odds and ends errands that eats into my husband’s time (running to stores for materials, fixtures, etc.).

(My numbers were based on a $1M purchase of a  5-plex that rents out for $1500/mo before raising rents and the expenses eat up all the rental income.)

Take control of the deed and understand your Aquisition Costs, Closing Costs (Realtor Commission, which to be Frank, can eat up quite a bit of equity), Holding Costs, and in regards to seller costs...

For the broken window I would eat it. 

Take a look at below options and let me know which might be best. 1031 would keep 19.5k in additional deferred taxes to be used for new possible property, but easier said than done.option a: 1031 into another SFH property for 175-180 range with a mortgage and get mortgage for remaining amount. 20k mortgage seems like a waste.option b: eat the 20k tax and use a straight sale of property.

I’m sure there’s other factors I’m not seeing but RE is still the safest bet right up until the zombies start eating people.

The local TV stations usually eat that stuff up.

I think the only folks who may have bad things to say would be those folks who think company's should provide a premium service without the premium price, you know the have your cake and eat it too fools. 

We can afford to eat the mortgage payment, but would rather not of course considering we started down the REI path to build wealth and increase cash flow, not dent our wallets. 

I've been eating up all the info on the podcasts but haven't been able to spend as much time on the forums.