It is very hard to generate money with sub-standard real estate in the long run, capex tends to exceed cash flow and you are not creating meaningful equity either.As long as your properties are financed cash flow will be maybe not nothing, but indeed be quite limited.

Meals may be 50% deductible if tied to business discussions, and if you drive, you could deduct the mileage at the standard rate.

They're trying to fix a problem that doesn't really exist.Just like practically all laws promoted as protecting the tenants, they end up hurting them.

Attic insulation is one of those things that I am not sure how much practical effect there is, I only add attic insulation whenever the government subsidizes the cost, and after it's done I don't see any cost saving in my utilities bills (student rentals). 

I was in land and Timber in ORegon all through the 90s one of my favorite business's just got back from Target practicing up in the Tillamook forest today :)  Timber though is HIGHLY regional..

I'd love to get info/opinions on whether there is a "standard" amount of time to increase rents in the Bay Area for Single Family Homes.How do property management companies/landlords handle rent increases for existing renters? 

I picked RE because I had a lot of practical knowledge and experience that I thought I could leverage to add value to my purchases.

You can also use what is classified as a “Standard” stamp and as mention a machine presort stamp.  

If after adding the additional monthly recurring costs (electricity, gas, water, internet, insurance, lawn care, snow plowing, etc.) to the standard long-term costs (Mortgage, taxes, regular insurance, etc.) the property won't net at least $100 if I can get the average rent I see on FF for that area, then the property isn't worth more investigation.

What are common practices to remove them?