I admit that I was enamored by the presentation and then the herd mentality guidance of (1 + guru + 20k = success) simplistic formula.

I would ask the tenants upstairs to be aware that their kids running around probably sounds like a herd of elephants to the tenant below and maybe add some throw rugs to the upstairs unit and hope that quiets things down for the downstairs tenant.

It would set us apart from the herd in a major way.In a small market like mine, referrals from one good tenant to a friend are huge.

You're ahead of 95% of the herd.

I cant fathom the thought of following the herd and renting(paying another persons debt) being closed minded and thinking "i cant afford it".

Also, for climates like mine, where the main issue is cooling, would it make more sense to focus on attic foil/radiant barrier rather than, or in addition to, insulation? 

To go against the herd is one thing, but to not know who your tenants truly are before allowing them to occupy your property is another.Why not get their basic information (DOB and SSN) so you can run a free background check and check for evictions and judgments?  

Unless you're talking about foot thick concrete, it will sound like  a herd of elephants upstairs.What I would do is ask the downstairs unit if they would stay if you got rid of the upstairs problem. 

Brush killer/ivy killer seems to work if mixed with dieselA large herd of goats! 

Seems the original guys girlfriend had a couple, the brother had at least one, his girlfriend had two and the original guy who contacted me said he had two and they lived with the ex-wife but once they saw how nice this house was he was sure they'd want to live here too.At this point it was hard to keep a straight face talking to this herd  of humans but I did manage to ask them where they were currently residing.