Very few are in financial positions where tax strategies should be prioritized in their real estate business outside of perhaps timing and tax consequences of selling real estate. 

I purchased a duplex in May of this year and moved into the bottom unit with the intention of renting the top unit as well as the sf I moved out of which would put me in positive cashflow (the top unit of the duplex does not cover the duplex mortgage entirely on its own). 

They can help explain your position to the court and the building department.How did you find this contractor?

Starting over with a new property manager with a new listing can be a positive, as Airbnb and others reward new listings with additional exposure, especially if you are headed into the busy season.

I would think long and hard about the positives and the negatives .. and if you wish to go forward you got some great advice above.. good luck. 

My husband and I are now in a position to start acquiring some rental properties.

This may seem like a naive/juvenile question to someone of experience, and I'm new so here it goes.What positive/negative sides are there to having a lender who isn't local to the area I'm looking to purchase?

A story that does not clearly lay out the language of the contract, the dispute and both parties position (which is rarely if ever done) is only positioning for public support for one side to sell clicks or advertising.

.- Assume - second position HELOAN on primary for full $300k (lots of equity) for 15 years at 9% = $3,050 payment per month.

If it helps, put yourself in the position of the PL.What happens if the PL wires the 80% to your business account and then you get hit by a bus?