There's an adage in several sports about critical things like protective gear: "a $10 helmet for a $10 head."

We've started looking into real estate because we want to use our valuable time to invest in our kids as they grow and invest in our local community through volunteering, not spending all of our time working 9-5 for the next 20 years.Our goal with Bigger Pockets for this year is to determine our plan for investing, and then make our first purchase.

PM is a service business and time is very valuable.

Which meant that the banks suddenly did not have enough “safe” assets like that super-valuable & honest Treasury Paper.

Stop hanging out with your deadbeat buddies who spend all day drinking, talking sports, and otherwise wasting away.

You have been given valuable advice from multiple angles here.

Very valuable insights, Jay.

Most property management companies are licensed realtors with extensive experience working with investors and providing valuable insights into their local market.

By adopting the house-hacking method—living in one unit while renting out the others—we plan for the tenants to cover the mortgage and gain valuable property management experience.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on striking the right balance between being thorough and adhering to fair housing practices.Thanks again for starting this conversation—it’s incredibly valuable to learn from experienced property managers like you!