For 3 months I had no idea that the basement was occupied by a professional jazz band. 

It created a thick white coating over the rock/cement walls.Using a dehumidifier helps keep it on the wall.

One Duplex has both sides rented with about $120k in equity from mostly appreciationWe are house hacking the other duplexed financed with FHA loan (deadbeat tenants removed from side B and rehab under way).

Thank you, that’s good advice to aim for B and C properties.

I had a contractor client complain to me that a company was trying to pay sheet rock prices for the repair of a cedar closet. 

There would be a $800 permit fee and they would raise the property tax 2.5 times for B&B and raise the tax 4 times for stand alone units. 

@JR RivasSingle family houses totally rock.

We have never owned new, is this advisable in the round rock market or should we look at a seasoned home ?

I also recently got married and excited for all the years ahead with my bride, my rock, my treasure.My goal is to be able to replace my current monthly income with real estate investing in 5 years.

You can do some things to try and help the % in your favor but there are tons of things out of your controlI see quite a few people posting that have made it big with appreciation...... what I don't see is the people that lost their *** in 2008 when they jumped in at the top,  counting on the continued appreciation and it didn't happen.....and even worse the value dropped like a hot rock......lots of them but still crickets.....Can you make big $$ doing this?....