What I object to was the notion that asking a buyer to sign an exclusive buyer's broker agreement is "trickery". 

Social norms = the notion people have a right not to be offended.

You have a weak case given the unit was vacant at the time of the loss. a tenant would not be able to notionally renew month-to-month if there was no tenant to begin with.

I'm curious about the notion that forming an LLC mgmt company instead of a RE-owner company would save any money at all. the umbrella insurance protects from losses at your properties, but wouldn't protect your properties from personal judgments unrelated to your REI activities (e.g., if you got into a bad car accident or something). the LLC, assuming you follow the relatively straightforward formalities when operating it, would offer some protection of the property (if not from any cash-flow distributions you'd otherwise get)

I work off the notion that "contractors are great, until they're not." 

I too have a flip business on the side.After doing some research and reading some more on BP regarding syndication, I'm coming away with the notion (perhaps incorrectly) that syndication may be a shorter term play than my long term goals?  

While I second the notion that this is a high price to pay for limited rental income.

If I wait, I'll pay more interest (assuming rates finally do rise), but if I buy now, I pay more for the home and my mortgage notional increases.

I think there is a notion that all you have to do is put bandit signs send some mailers out and like magic, a desperate seller falls on your lap and you can buy the house for 50% off. 

The reason I've been scared away from  retail is because of all of the store closings I've heard about in the last 12 months and this notion that Amazon and others will continue to take market share from brick and mortar retail locations.