We actually toyed with the idea of renting year round once we knew we'd spend a few months down there so that we had a place to run off too any time.

Move to less expensive housing, cancel all your electronic toys, spend less time and money with friends etc.If you make saving and investing your priority in life you will be amazed at how much money you are actually wasting on useless items every month.  

Recession resistant asset class (people downsize, move in together, move back home, etc. during recessions)Cash flowing asset (not dependent on market appreciation)People buy a lot of crap and toys during good economic times (and need a place to put it)75% of the facilities in the country are owned by non-institutional owners (opportunity for adding value)Small ($10-30) rental increases create large increases in NOI and property valuationSticky tenant baseUnits are easy to maintain (brick and metal, no amenities, little landscaping)Location, population growth, and barriers to entry matter. 

I'm now toying with the idea of using a partner and/or wondering about using equity in one of my properties to get another. 

We have toyed the Real Estate investment idea for a couple of years and now feel ready to take some action. 

I rent out a storage unit for my small business ventures and toys.

Recently been toying with the idea of selling it and trying to obtain multi unit properties out of state. 

Or nice kids toys like Legos or magnatiles?

So the funds earned in the LLC go toward funding the LLC rather than your personal car payment, lunch, toys for your kids, cable bill, etc.. 

Jared Viernes my wife and I will actually be living here for the next 2.5 years or so and we had toyed with the idea of buying a new construction but the main reason we didn’t go with what you’re saying is that a lot of the inventory here is either relatively new or just nasty looking and/or in a flood zone.