My main goal is to be able to have more financial freedom and to be able to take care of my parents since they have worked so hard to provide for my brothers and me - I can already see them relaxing in their vacation home in Mexico sipping on margs :DSo I look forward to conversing with everyone and learning from this wonderful community!

It seems like the risk too much for me to handle at this time on this deal without a really relaxed investor to back me up.

You are 100% right on not changing/relaxing your criteria.

I myself have rented a cabin for the weekend to get away from Long Island and relax.

My advice would be for first time investors to avoid this type of project unless the local building conditions are fairly relaxed.  

Yet the broker stating I can increase it to between $1200-$1500 because the laws are relaxed in one of the towns where I am hunting for a deal.I have several options A) I can give cash for keys to the tenant... but let's say I do... give the cash for keys for tenant to move out... the real question is... will I be able to increase rent?

And an actual roofer to get on the roof.Get copies of all leases and READ them.Go to the city and see if there are any open permits, and if there’s a rental department, and/or a health Dept, go there.Probably more than you want to know, and maybe you already know all this, but after many years of doing this, I tend to be too relaxed, and wish someone would slap me around each time!

I was just wondering if people who have been successful in REI can enjoy a fairly relaxed life.

So relax, live well and get ahead the smart way.  

As much as I enjoyed making drinks to those who wanted to relax after a hard day of work or just wanted to chat with their loved ones, I didn't want to do it forever.