If loan balance is $300k and it's worth $400k and an equity partner puts $40k to bring it current then they have about 40% of equity in the property - now they would not take straight $40k as probably more costs involved.

Lowest cost way to get a deal done with your own money would be to house hack with a 3-5% down conventional loan.

So, if a tenant broke a window and it cost $300 to replace, you can simply add that bill in apartments.com and that way its all tracked where everyone can see it and track it. 

If I were to purchase an Airstream to use as lodging while I travel across the US to my rental properties, make repairs, and perform lease turnovers, would I be able to not only deduct fuel and campground costs but also depreciate the purchase price across 5 years? 

Given his spending habits during his first term, it might be a wash.Costs to build new properties will probably increase.

The idea of stacking a lot of them together seems rather stupid when you consider the added cost especially for someone from CA. 

Higher-cost markets can still work with appreciation, rent growth, and creative financing.Best next steps?

I did not want to spend 50K on doing separate meters for where I have my rentals it would cost me this much.

I was chatting with some of my lending buddies at big banks and they are all backing away from the CRE space including office because operating costs are increasing more quickly than rents.

To be brutally honest i don't care if it's at cost, below or above, I only care what it is exactly and how much.