We gained confidence, and learned a ton about real estate, investing, and our own partnership (and marriage.)Have any of you had a great deal that was better as a no deal?

Their court records: family, criminal, marriage, property, traffic -- are all online and all free for anyone to look at.It's not difficult to learn about docket sheets and case summaries, but when you do, a wealth of eminently useful information opens up to you.

Or do I want a 30 year marriage that comes with all of the kids?

Here is info from an older post that might help with your research.That probably stems from the definition of a "family" in the City of Pittsburgh Zoning Code [see art. 9, ch. 926, § 76(b)]:A group of not more than three (3) persons who need not be related by blood or marriage or adoption, living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit, and shared common facilities as considered reasonably appropriate for a family related by blood, marriage or adoption; in either case exclusive of usual servants;So I guess any house zoned as "single family" can technically only have one such group living in it.

Reason for me saying this is starting a business is like a marriage.

@Jay Hinrichs, isn't the moral of the story here - always overachieve at marriage??? 

Just my 2 cents here though abd different marriages run things differently.

This is how Summit defines a family.Two or more persons not necessarily related by blood, marriage, adoption, or guardianship living together in a dwelling unit as a single housekeeping unit under a common housekeeping management plan based on an intentionally structured relationship providing organization and stability.

Go back a bit more and we celebrated their sleeping with our brides during the first night of our marriage.

[Marriage is my go to example]The other thing you have to take into account is while yes, time and effort is a valuable commodity, who stands to lose the most?