Fascinating history, but DEAD.

Big Bear has this down to a science with placards denoting occupancy and parking limits.

But profits are also subject to Self Employment taxes, so there's plusses and minuses to both methods.The issue with taxes is that it is both an art and a science to maximize tax savings and balance other needs and it's really important to sit with a knowledgeable CPA and talk about your specific situation (not your friend's, not somebody else on BP, not your mentor) and have them help you design a tax plan built for you.  

I've also completely rebuilt my home after a fire and did a total renovation on the Yosemite place, and have changed careers from science to real estate (I'm an agent as well as an investor) so it sounds like we have some similar interests!  

(Not completely relevant, but a fascinating tidbit, I think) Now, I think that study was mostly of salaried workers -- being a self employed investor/entrepreneur is a different thing, and I think if a study focused on those folks the results might vary quite a bit.BTW, my current income goal is $12,750 a month (yes, I have a reason for picking that specific number).

We focus on building science and trying to figure out why things are happening rather than saying that the light switch is broken.  

The best way to understand an appraisal is look at one and ask questions.You'll also see there are three approaches, the market described above, the income approach, based on income potential of the subject and the replacement approach, what it would cost to build the subject and then depreciate the improvements based on age and condition.It's an art as much of a science, don't expect to nail a value on a subject, your goal is to get close. :)

I've been reading through the court filings for the Lange case, and wow, this guy seems to have had putting people off for just a little bit longer down to a science.  

We dipped them in liquid nitrogen (his brother was a science teacher) and then let them thaw.

Appraising is an art and a science, you can't paint a master piece with a paint by numbers set.