@Kyle Kulhanek To retitle your Chicago condo into an LLC for liability protection, start by forming the LLC with a clear operating agreement outlining ownership and responsibilities.

@Ryan Daniel  I will preface this with the fact that I have a legal background, specifically with estate planning and asset protection in relation to real estate investments.

The market is TOUGH right now for LTRs and STRs.Hope this helps - we are trying to protect you.

Include a buyout clause allowing you to transition to sole ownership after two years, based on a pre-determined valuation formula or market value.Use an LLC to hold the property for liability protection and pass-through taxation, ensuring both partners benefit from depreciation to offset rental income.

This means you can sell, lease, or pass on the property as you see fit, just like any other property owner.Full Ownership RightsYou have the same rights as a Mexican property owner, including the ability to sell, lease, transfer, or mortgage the propertyLegal SecurityThe Bank Trust is a well-established legal mechanism in Mexico, ensuring your investment is secure and protected under Mexican law.Renewable TermsThe trust is set up for 50 years and can be renewed indefinitely, allowing you and future generations to maintain control over the property.Estate PlanningThe trust makes it easier to pass the property on to heirs, simplifying the inheritance process and reducing potential legal complications.Although the process might initially seem complex, it is entirely managed and supervised by a reputable banking entity.

A professional property manager should handle the heavy lifting, ensuring your investment is protected and profitable without adding stress to your plate.

@Cristal Ochoa @Leiah DotlichI will preface this with the fact that I have a legal background, specifically with estate planning and asset protection.

When its included in a lease for real estate then the laws pertaining to residential rental security deposits in your state apply but when its separate you should have more leeway to get some additional deposit to protect you.

(If you are out of state, you may seriously consider using a good property manager because of screening tenants, vandalism, squatting, and various other reasons -- they do protect your investment).

My humble advice to anyone attempting to do creative finance is:Creative finance is for experienced investors who have access to capital if anything goes wrong.Learn the lawsDon't use a contract "off the internet", laws vary by state and are also regulated on a federal levelLearn the financing techniques correctlyDon’t skip parts of the processDon’t ever do a “kitchen table” closingUse the proper deedAn attorney can help you with the legal work, but the rest you are on your ownYour guru will not bail you out“Investing” in someone else’s deal by providing a small 2nd loan so the “investor” can pay for “cash to the seller” and for “closing costs” so he can do the deal is a very bad planKnow what problems can ariseLearn the responses and solutions to problems before they are neededKnow everything there is to know about Title and what that meansKnow who a "protected class" individual isLearn the "back doors"Learn human natureUnderstand timelinesUnderstand regulation enforcement (some of these "mistakes" have a 10 year statue of limitations ( they can charge you 10 years AFTER you do the transaction) and carry hefty fines and possible imprisonmentThe court doesn't accept "I didn't know" for an answer"Know that the source of the lead plays a serious role in some states and federallyKnow how much of a "profit" pushes the boundaries to invite an investigationYou can be sued by the seller if you don’t do things correctlyYou are automatically at fault if an investigator or attorney or regulator gets involved.