Around here, local banks loathe out-of-area borrowers who don't have a local partner, and they generally don't care that you're using a property manager.Definitely have the electrical and plumbing carefully inspected by a licensed person.

That makes it much easier to tolerate late payments something I'm usually loathe to do after a  couple of times.  

I feel loathe to go down the traditional route as I feel there must be more creative/wiser ways to climb this ladder.

After months ... well, maybe a year, of lurking, I've submitted my "introduction" post and made a few other small contributions to some of the fora.Now I've sat down to raise the questions responsible for my being here in the first place and I'm not exactly certain how to start ... so, rather than try to write eloquently, like any engineer, I'll resort to a bullet list of the facts ;-)1) As alluded in my introductory post (http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/55/topics/88317-new-sort-of-in-canada ) I realise we have arrived at the point where, if we are to grow our real estate business to meet our objectives in a reasonable time period we need to start using other peoples money (OPM) to purchase properties.2) I've helped raise both private and public funds for startups in my past, so the principal and general process is not foreign to me.3) Despite the above two facts, I am presently seeing the task of approaching people for private financing as a "necessary evil" and am loath to do it.

If you end up loathing it after 3 months you don't want to go upside down in cash-flow (or do something you hate for 2 years).2.)

I'd consider selling off a condo, but in my case my portfolio is intricately tied together and I'm loathe to do that. 

My realtor told me that the units could rent for $50-100 more each, but there are two great tenants in the duplex, and neither one has any intention of moving out, sot I am loathe to increase the rent too much.The duplex has new water heaters, central AC, and heat.

I just want to fix up houses, I loathe the math.  

Be honest with yourself - are you afraid 'good' tenant will leave or just really loath to turn over the property.

I see good deals up there, but I've been loathe to leap because I'm in Bath and not as close as I'd like to be.