Many of the best investments are the ones you don't buy.

I have one tenant who is a god send compared to most, he accomplishes nearly ever repair I need, even did an HVAC unit. 

I'm out West at the moment, but will probably be returning to Tokyo before too much longer.At the risk of being contrarian, after picking up a couple of investment properties in Japan (one Tokyo, one outskirts), I shifted to a strategy of only investing in the US. 

For investors looking to maximize returns while managing risk, here’s why this type of deal stands out compared to Treasuries.Treasuries: Safety with Limited UpsideTreasuries are an attractive option for those seeking safety, especially short-term bonds with maturities of one year or less.

Has anyone saved money and closed with one of these new upstarts?

Another option is house hacking—buying a small multi-unit, living in one, and renting the rest to cut costs.

Ask your employer if you can have your pay split up into three deposits, one to investments savings, one to your checking account for personal use on a daily basis, and one to an emergency account you can tap into so you don't have to tap into your investment savings.

Are you persistent enough, dedicated enough and sometimes just stubborn enough to be the first one in and last one out of the 'gym'?

I had no exposure to this group but recently heard one of their principals on this podcast.

One thing I wish I knew starting out was the true overhead of running a RE business it can be pricey if you don't run your numbers right.