Isn't it putting the cart before the horse (did I say that right?)

I've not seen a smaller PM yet who was making any real money, unless they were running a shady over-billing operation on the maint side, and that horse can only be ridden for so long.

However my father taught us to always go to the right place and get it from the horses mouth.

If you are painting doors, remove them from the hinges and paint them outside in saw horses.

They run their business, not mine.I've also partnered with them as well but that's a horse of a different color, take the risk and you can have the upside or down. :)

In fairness, it's difficult to budget for heat when you realize your are living in a home with single pane windows and insulated with horse hair from the 1900s.

Learn from them get back own your horse and continue trying to provide good rental to the masses at a profit to you.

That seems like putting the horse before the cart.

My dream has always been to have my own little acreage and have my horses in the backyard, but still be close enough to the city to commute to my job there.

There are other funds that have an exit plan of 5-7 years(normally when the loan will balloon)(also as a way for the fund to benefit from the fees they can collect from a sale).Sorry to sound like a beaten horse; but it really does depend on the goals of the fund you plan to invest in.