Our current investments have been in San Diego and got lucky with appreciation and rental rates, but we realize that we need to explore out of California for an investment to make sense.  

My dead-end jobs before real estate helped launch me into directions I never realized at the time where helpful.

@Julio GonzalezI just read this: A cost segregation study allowed the owner to accelerate over 97% of the basis resulting in over $36M in accelerated depreciation.Did not realize there was so much opportunity with RV Parks.

If you do not understand how NOI and cap rate determine value, learn it even if in theory it only applies to commercial RE.If you flip, you realize the gain in the short term.  

After realizing I could get the drain tile done quicker and cheaper than what PermaSeal offered, I switched companies.

But realize that if you live somewhere seasonal, occupancy can vary... like cold winters in Texas probably equal lower occupancy.   

I realize they might want to call the loan due if they see a business paying for it and make me pay the remainder.

Thirdly, if the losses can only get carried forward to selling time when I realize capital gains, then isn't there the rule (i forget the name) which allows you to sell, and buy another house within few months, and hence you don't have to pay any capital gains on the first house?

The price is too big a leap for me right now...and I realize from your position it could be the difference of my ever getting off the ground with land investing. 

Oh, and make sure you have Workers Comp on the guys you hire to help unload.Ahahaha, after they got done realizing what was going on I never heard another peep.....Got my first license in '83, all these years I never realized I was a hostage-taking price-gouger......Damn.