This is long but I think you might  be able to see the point I want to say here...The way I see it, people that really want to invest in Real Estate as a career start like everyone else does in any other career, that is from the bottom up.

It's a great way to get you moved to the very bottom of our list of people to call.  5.  

Information is very important - asking the right questions and knowing how to respond to responses will mark you as a rank amateur or professional who knows what to do and how to get the the bottom line quickly and close a deal.

Bottom line for me as a investor starting out if you are not prepared to lose it all then you are not prepared to invest.

We still came out very good because we bought at the bottom of the market in the area and sold when local inventory was very short.

Bottom line us both have advantages and both have disadvantages and it comes down to personal choice.  

I would assume that they are looking out for their bottom line also and would want to reduce when possible.

Downside: It cuts into your bottom line increasing expenses, having to endure ridiculous rules that may not make sense to you or your tenants, restrictions on the number of units the HOA allow to be non-owner occupied (The HOA can decide to limit, reduce or expand the number of non-owner occupied units at any time).

it does not sound like a deal that make sense, unless the seller are willing to short sale and still bank has the say on bottom line number.

Rent the bottom floor to a commercial tenant and second floor to another tenant and I stay on the top floor.