Before long, investors were piling into the grand ballroom and the quiet whispers of the morning became a slow and steady roar, as investors from all over the US introduced themselves to each other, exchanged business cards and shared their stories of where they're from and why they're here.

try googling OPA Philadelphia, its the city site but it is a little slow to update new Deeds.

PROs:Adds a level of professionalismAccess to MLSNetworking with other agentsAccess to resources of TREC, TAR, NAR, SABOR, & other groupsListing your owner propertiesAbility to earn commissions (or given them up in order to get a deal)Ongoing education that keeps you at the forefront of the market, legal issues, & trendsCONs:More liability (assume professional liability)Some people just don't like RE agentsRealtor - often considered the last bastion of hope for people who have failed to launch a  successful career in anything else.Dues, Fees, Insurance, Expenses in GeneralSubject to rules and laws that don't apply to non-realtorsHaving to work with TREC (they are just very slow and cumbersome to work with)For me, I find it worth it to be a professional in my field.  

I am slowing learning all I can about Real Estate and have heard of 'yellow letter' campaigns.

You already have utilities on site, so its a cheap solution and highest possible return if its a slow market with low home values.

Then you get caught up in growing and building this machine that you have built and you do not realize your success until you take a moment and slow down.

The potential in the short-term market is the icing, but it has to work if/when our national economy slows down. 

I've been pondering on withdrawing the money and using the funds towards updating my personal residence in preparation for renting it out.

But we may have less purchasing power if that slow down comes because of rising interest rates.  

This has slowed up the process a tad, but we are starting off slow and steady, and not putting any extra stress/risk on our business.