I loved my corporate work, and still sometimes miss it...but the trade-off was worth it...Oh, and I've been working on the work/life balance thing for 5 years now (since we had our first child)...it's not easy -- especially if you enjoy working and/or don't have the luxury of setting your own hours just yet -- but your kids are pretty good at letting you know when you are and aren't getting your priorities straight and helping you keep them straight...  :-)

Hello all,

I'm new to the forum. Been in the real estate industry for 7 years now, formerly as a Mortgage Broker, the last 1 1/2 years as an investor too. We buy and sell properties all over the US. Many of our buyer...

Prices range from 100k-300k due to there being mansions right next door to smaller houses.What is exactly the plan?

The properties have been a mix of mostly average middle class type rentals, although certainly some slums and luxury in the mix at various points.

The only way to make it work is in the luxury sector.

I Started in Luxury Residential Rentals- but want to move into STR's.  

After leveling and laying thicker laminate (bedrooms and living room) and luxury vinyl plank (kitchen and bathrooms), it was a night and day difference.

Now with that luxury you will end up paying a higher interest rate (about 6% right now with GOOD credit scores) and have to be pigeon holed into a shorter term (15 years max), but it wont throw off your debt to income and it wont even appear on your report when you go to buy your own home.  

Somehow being an agent got hijacked with slick folks in luxury cars making it seem like all we do is show 1 house and money falls from heaven.

No, because a) that might be their luxury/vice item for all I know, which is 100% fine if it's viewed as a luxury item that they just really personally enjoy and gain happiness from (it's much less harmful than other vices, like drugs or gambling!)