Now, its also possible to use an IRA to invest in real estate, so you can have your cake and eat it too, BUT it makes investing more complicated. if you want to try that route, you better do some research first.

Also, his strategy is more complicated than his brief outline of it.Sounds like you're planning to hold this house for awhile as a rental.

I talked to them in 2010 when i had a semi complicated business model. and of course they lead you one you send your bizz plan.. and very few questions later lo and behold your approved.. subject to underwriting which will be 10k.. they preyed on beginners who wanted larger loans which no beginner on the planet would ever get from a legit lender.so I was like no way dude.. you did not ask enough questions.. so i passed then learned on American greed they are were crooks of the first order.

You'll certainly want to avoid that by working with her if it comes to that, but you need to know now what it will cost to file for foreclosure (non-judicial in MI, right?)

I think it complicates things to have different criteria for different types of properties.

To make it a little more complicated, in the next 3-4 years, we'd like to move to Central America for mission work. 

The area that you designate as the home office can potentially be written off on your tax return.For example if your personal residence is 1000 square feet and you use 200 square feet regularly and exclusively related to your freelance business; you can deduct 20% of your utilities, water etc.What you can deduct for the rental business, your home office deduction and personal(non-deductible) can be complicated.

Co-mingling funds can get VARY complicated and I would NOT recommend it.

You can make RE as complicated or as simple as you want it to be.

The exact application can get complicated and there are many exceptions (e.g. restrictive covenants in employment contexts have special rules).