Turns out, during construction, one of our vendors flushed something down the toilet, causing a clog, which led to the system overflowing and flooding the home.We ended up having to cut and replace drywall in multiple rooms and swap out the wet carpet, which will cost us around $10K.Mishaps like this will happen in Real Estate.

As a new investor, I simply don't have the budget for ListSource.com or the like, with prices between $0.14 and $0.18 per lead.

Hey Brian, you're not cash flowing, but you've significantly cut your living expenses! 

If you wish to buy rentals using your retirement funds you simply need a self-directed IRA (or Checkbook IRA if you wish to have more control). 

I have a duplex where the plumbing was getting backed up.Had a plumber go out there and put a camera in the lines and turns out there are roots growing into the plumbing from a nearby tree.The quote to rip out and replace the plumbing was a staggering number.My thought is to cut down the tree to stop the growing and then eventually put the liner in the plumbing.Any experience with this?

So, I would simply make it about paying what they owe.

Are most landlords/PMs not contacting employers and instead simply trusting the paystubs provided?

Lots of trees to cut up and haul off.

Quite a steal and they get snatched up pretty quickly but if you crunch the numbers, even with the high interest rate you get pretty close to cutting even on your rent (after you allocate X amount to unforeseen property costs)

If the platform feels like you are trying to cut them out of their fee, then you may lose the ability to list temporarily or permanently.