There's no way I would expect anyone to send money without asking questions and personally I would want to meet in person and shake hands with someone I would be investing with.The irony is that I am highly interested in the topic of this thread, specifically ways can an individual invest in real estate PASSIVELY, with minimal risk.

If someone is just wanting me to stop by and give them a rough idea (a dollar amount off of the top of my head) I will usually just do a hand shake and call it good, unless the person abuses it and never gives me work.  

you should check with your broker but in many states you cant enter into right to sell in the future like this.list backs for bringing dirt deals is a hand shake thing.. not a contractual one.. 

I am finding that all northern states have the worst service, over charge, take too long to do anything, and find any way they can fine, penalize, or shake you down. 

First that huge gap in vacancy rate would be totally irrelevant to the NOI IF the total of vacancy, credit loses and expenses all shake out to be 50% of the gross rent.  

I figured it would be a good idea to get some sort of document stating "permission" and terms of the joint venture, instead of a hand-shake or verbal agreement.

Michele:  That sugar thing is very difficult to shake as ANY habit is.  

I'm going to buy sticks/tape or markers to block it from driving, but you just look at it and have to shake your head like "why?

Also, I can't tell you how the numbers will shake out in 5 years.

We've got an economy that holds value even through economic shakes, price points are super approachable at 60-80k and it's easy to achieve the 1% rent to value ratio if you're working with the right people and looking in the right places!