A completely misunderstanding and just plain wrong. 

It's this misunderstandings about how this can work to your favor, and how this all fits together!  

I could be misunderstanding and you are simply putting the money back in when you don't have to. 

I do not care to discuss this with you any longer.You quoted a scripture based on a gross misunderstanding of it and also what the simple matters of this thread are about.You say that all we have is hearsay, but you also claim to be speaking the truth on the subject.

Unless I'm misunderstanding the lender I'm working with on my latest acquisition - after the first two years of rental history being recorded on your taxes, your mortgage is no longer added to the Debt portion of your DTI, it is countered by your rental income and anything over your mortgage is moved to the Income portion of this ratio.

@J Scott no you misunderstand me.

The lease is definitely a contract and is enforceable, but it is also a guideline for how certain situations will be handled.It sounds like you're the one who has a misunderstanding of the lease, Tenant-Landlord law, and related legal concepts and norms.

My take is there is a disconnect or misunderstanding there somewhere.

There are two factors the gurus hide and novice investors misunderstand:1) REI is a cash-intensive business and you really need it to participate.

<g>Or am I mis-understanding your question?