The grout between the tiles allows a run off of water and a gripping surface for your feet.3. if you’re smart, use durock on the walls too, right up to the ceiling.

Fixing up a property and turning it into student housing is a smart move—steady demand and solid rental income.Great job!

All in all it depends on the mindset of the investor and dozens of other things smart people consider.

I went from a W2 job to building a portfolio of 500+ units over the last 5 years by starting small and scaling smart.

A 1031 exchange is a smart choice for your parents, reducing immediate taxes to $70K (capital gains on $300K boot + $25K depreciation recapture) versus $148K without it.

CA maybe as high with their EIR requirements that cost 250k to 500k just for the EIR reports.That's a really smart way to go about it. 

Smart investors first focus on finding quality properties—such as those in thriving areas of Brooklyn or potential neighborhoods around Manhattan—and then reverse engineer the process by improving management, optimizing rental structures, or enhancing facilities to make it worthwhile.

But it’s clear you’re a smart investor who knows the long-term benefits real estate can bring.I keep reminding myself why I stick with real estate: you can make money every month in four different ways:Cash Flow – Passive income to live on.Appreciation – Long-term property value growth.Depreciation – Tax benefits that reduce your taxable income.Tenants Paying Down the Mortgage – Even if you’re paid off now, this is one of the biggest wealth-building tools for leveraged properties.It sounds like your main struggle is the stress of active management—and trust me, you’re not alone.

Than be smart, site back and listen, take it all in, be a good student. 

Also, exploring alternative lenders could reveal better financing options that align with your goals, so it’s a smart step to consider before committing further with the current lender.