The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

I recommend spending a little extra money and pay to have trade specific people inspect the property too, not just an inspector.

That could mean renting extra rooms out to roommates or buying 2-4 units, living in one, and renting the others.

I've had negative experiences with a bad general contractor and a non-paying renter (leading to an eviction), so I'm being extra cautious in selecting the right lender this time.Could anyone recommend a trustworthy lender in the Los Angeles area who can guide me through this difficult time?

You pay in the rate for the extra leverage.

I retired from the Army about two years ago, and during the last 3 years serving I started investing in real estate for extra income on the side.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can maximize the wealth of information available: Check out the blogs and podcasts, or take advantage of the search feature (magnifying glass).

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

The house I just bought last week with 5% down was $620k purchase and the PMI is $108 per month, so pretty minimal in the big scheme of things; I would't pay the extra $93k to save $108 per month, that's only a 1.4% premium.

Many of us will gladly share our contacts - helping you AND that allows us to provide value to our contractors by referring them extra business.