For tax purposes, both material participation and use of your automobile for business purposes, you really should have a daily log. 

Here is why Texas and Florida are asset protection heavens1- All money in virtually any retirement plan is exempt from creditor attachment2- All equity in your home up to an unlimited amount is exempt from creditors3- All money in annuities and insurance policies are exempt from creditor attachment.4- Your automobile is exempt from creditor attachment5- $30,000 per person (in addition to above) is exempt from creditor attachment6- Wages up to an unlimited amount can not be garnished (except IRS or child support)The above is not true in Kentucky or most other states.

Say, I do not want to get the preforeclosure leads (pretty houses with no equity) - any way to be immune from those useless leads when advertising outdoors?

The major cities in Cali are not immune to downturns but the general trend has been up for many decades. 

My impression as well would be that free-and-clear properties make trial lawyers' mouths water, and that the presence of the debt will give some natural lawsuit immunity should you become a potential target, so that has some value in our litigious society.I would also take advantage of the low fixed rates and great buyers market, using your payoff cash to grow your little empire.

Walmart knows more about the costs that go into a product than the actual manufacturer and will squeeze out as much profit from the supplier as they can to get the costs down.Same holds true for lawnmowers and automobile tires, from what I've been told...

RockefellerThe Keys to cash Flow is a creative financing course that focuses on building cash flow using low risk investments(Mobile Homes, RV’s, Automobiles, Boats, Heavy Machinery, Etc.)

However I have never done assignments to an IRA and was just wondering why it would violate the rule and/or its intent.So the fact that I am traveling to the sale in my automobile with its accompanying cost, paying the registration fees if any, signing up to bid as a personal representative or agent of either the custodian or the IRA account, taking the time and effort to bid, and handling the customary work in dealing with redemptions, getting the deeds recorded and directing the custodian to pay those costs, and finally dealing with an attorney and agent to get clear title and the unredeemed property sold is not self dealing?

@Aaron Knoll  yes and noYes because it's a total seller's market right now.No because there are deals out there, it's just harder to get them now compared to a few years back - and No because while we are certainly not immune to the drastic swings in the market, the swing isn't quite as drastic here.I feel like there are a couple factors at play (this is by no means scientific, just my gut feeling of what I'm seeing out there now):Because it's a seller's market, IF (and that's a big IF) a property is priced correctly, there's no reason a seller should take a low-ball offer from an investor when there's a pretty good chance an owner occupier will come by and offer 95-97% of list.

In Louisiana the seller and I went to a notary public, signed a standard bill of sale and the seller signed over the title just like an automobile.