And DIY repairs are not recommended for other reasons: it will take you much longer to complete, depriving you of rental income, and you run a high risk of your wife becoming your ex-wife.Same risk exists if you push your wife into becoming a Realtor or some other real estate activity just for the sake of tax benefits.

Pyment is $1,054, but $625 is interest.If you sold current house and bought new one with same mortgage amount, but current interest rate of 7%, the payment would be $1,663, interest amount $1,458.So, the interest cost difference would be $833 month!

It’s definitely smart to evaluate the tax and cost implications of your funding options.

One more reason why people should stop looking for the easy path to building wealth.Increase earnings, reduce expenses, save, and invest.

The reason most inexperienced investors buy in Detroit or Cleveland is because of cheap pricing.

Rent coming in and time solve almost all reasonable problems.

I'm with you that sidewalk slip and fall litigation may be less likely in the Midwest than say Mid Atlantic which tends to have more litigious cities but dismissing premises liability issues can come back to bite an investor and when these properties have such razor thin margins that an investor must consider the cost benefit analysis of safety against ROI, there is a real estate issue and is usually a losing proposition.   

I believe they are recouping costs associated with loans they don't close.

The masterminds often encourage students to finance the new-car like entrance fees on a credit card, on the promise of just a single deal covering all the entrance costs. 

There are ways to mitigate the costs and protect yourself to the extent possible.