But every property ought to be able to stand on its own as being profitable or it should be eliminated.

Thanks, Andrew & Cara, for eliminating the uncertainty I have.

@Adam Sporinsky, You need to eliminate the word "flip" from your vocabulary entirely :)Your intent with a flip is primarily to resell.  1031 qualifying real estate is purchased with the intent to hold for productive use in trade business or for investment.  

Through the painful process of elimination over the past 25+ years, we have found that strategically sending unsolicited offers to owners yields consistent and profitable results.Hope this helps.

Technology is going to eliminate so many jobs. 

Proposed regulations have run the gamut to not much impact to virtually eliminating them for non-owner occuppied.  

It's those maniacs that buy homes cash via quit claim deed off of craigslist that really get screwed.Make sure your property manager is a licensed real estate brokerage.Understand you can not eliminate all risk, only mitigate it.

It's those maniacs that buy homes cash via quit claim deed off of craigslist that really get screwed.Make sure your property manager is a licensed real estate brokerage.Understand you can not eliminate all risk, only mitigate it.

thanks @stevebracero, definitely thinking about tenants which is why I eliminated brockton and taunton.  

Such programs would eliminate the fee intensive "paperwork nightmare" you refer to.2) Your retirement plan is not technically "your money".