Are there any creative things that could be done to get to my goals or from your standpoint,  or is it pretty well a firm "not gonna fly" type scenario? 

A lot of our housing stock here has finished basements or in-law suites, so with something like that you can generate significant rental income for an inexpensive conversion. 

., I left Anderson for a small firm that will do the actual taxes and then another company that specializes in tax strategy. 

To thrive in real estate investing, you must maintain a firm grip on your finances.

We review yearly with our CPA who files the necessary forms.By law, IRAs require a custodian.

Our pet deposit is non-refundable which is what I generally would recommend (assuming your state and local laws allow that).

When I finally did this I found that I could invest in a market that had far better growth and for sure better landlord laws.  

New Jersey state law allows for owner occupants to have much more freedom. 

The class action law suit is the topic. 

Florida, particularly Tampa and Central Florida, is a strong option because of steady demand, landlord-friendly laws, and solid appreciation.If you’re debating between short-term and long-term rentals, I’d say long-term rentals are more stable, especially with the recent saturation of Airbnbs.