With 2 little kids and not much spare time or $ to chase tenant issues.Tim, your point about not being able to get 2 mortgages is what I recently discovered from our bank as well.

I usually hit forums when I have the most spare time with nothing to really focus on... while drivingKidding!

Not because I have cheap rent or I am a pushover, but because if they called me right now saying their fridge is not cooling I would be pulling up within the hour in my 2003 Pontiac Montana van and trailer with a spare used fridge from Habitat Humanity or some yard sale that I bought last spring and have kept in storage for when a fridge went down.

Keep the papers picked up (some areas have freebies tossed into driveways.)If it is not too bad an idea and you have a spare old car not worth much, park it in the driveway and leave it occassionally.The more that it looks like the house is owned and occupied, the less risk you have of damage or theft.

I don't want to make a good return if I have to give it all away in taxes.I am no expert in all domains but after 6 months of focusing my spare time on it, I am getting a clearer idea.It may better fit under a different BP topic...

She currently has a secured loan and secured credit card she uses sparingly to help get her credit score going.  

JUST START FROM YOUR DESK WITH YOUR SPARE TIME!!!!!

If you have spare cash elsewhere in your portfolio and want to play it conservative then you should likely use your own cash.

If you network with the right people it really is not difficult and you should easily be able to do it in your spare time.As a real estate agent, you should concentrate on retail sales to make the most commission for the least amount of work.

If you're just watching TV, internet, etc in your "spare" time you're not doing anything constructive.