Be mindful that there are rules that the lenders want you to check off.Furthermore, there are other rules on the tax side where you want to normally be under to get the most tax benefits.The magic number in both instances is '14 days'Lenders want you to stay atleast 14 days to meet the secondary home requirement.The tax accountant normally wants you to stay less than 14 days or 10% of the days it was used as a rental to treat it as a rental and not as a personal residence.Best of luck!

I do well, at least enough to go on vacations as a family, put money into high yield savings accounts, max out the ROTHs and add to investments when I can with money saved in savings and checking accounts.

If you don't have a US-based bank account, I would get one as that's a requirement by most lenders.

I just had to take extra money out of my personal account and funnel into my rental account. 

I've been taking RMDs each year as required, and to think that now I am allowed to empty the remainder of the account and move it into my personal IRA without paying taxes on the distribution.....well, that seems to generouse to be true from the IRS....

Assuming you sold the home at the end of 5 yearsYour NET ROI would be:0% appreciation: 10.93%1% appreciation: 12.13%2% appreciation: 13.33%3% appreciation: 14.53%This ROI calculation takes into account taxes, insurance, selling costs, repairs (calculated at $3500) through out the lease.

I read a post of a guy who had the coins to keep his collateral from getting sold, but couldn't log in to assign them to his account.

I'd build up and go for at least 2 units but 3 stories is better. 3 story walk up apartments account for almost 65% of apartment developments round he country. this is what I'd recommend on your lot. this is 35' tall and we do it in columbus oh 

You have to account for ALL expenses.Let's pretend you can rent it for $3,000.

He rightly points out the true material costs when accounting for all of the smaller misc. items add up and is usually under represented in construction budgets by new investors.