It is decorative trim, on a Victorian style house in a historic district.

Nathan Build a floorplan or style of property that allows for this to happen. this is just development. buying land, entitling it, building a single or multi (most the time multifamily) and refinance equity out.

They teach some big picture tax planning, but the bulk of the course is how to sell these big tax planning engagements. 

I'd have a very clear plan before you do something like that.There's a guy I was told who owns a company and all he does is teach people how to tap into the business credit their company can access. 

Academic teachings is totally senseless.

If you place anyone in a regular retail rental with inept investing or management styles you will encounter those problems no matter who you rent to. 

In return we get use of a house in the Hamptons with the traveling owner while teaching nearby for the fall.

People that teach that are not telling the whole story.

I did well, but divested before the crash and have been teaching in Oakland since then.

There are literally hundreds of great books you can get (BP has a great selection here) and thousands of hours of great content on YouTube that will teach you everything you need to know.