Quote from @Pearse Cafiero: You want to borrow money to buy a house, but you don't have the downpayment.

In many instances putting bad money after good by furnishing homes for STR or MTR leasing or perhaps making their personal credit vulnerable by agreeing to Sub To arrangement.

Quote from @Enzo Moraes-Chagas: #1: don't spend all your money on a property.

Originally posted by @Max Gradowitz:I'm in CA and the most common LLC-related question I get is "I live in CA, I want to buy properties in other states, what state should I open an LLC in so I can save money?"

A fool and his money are soon parted. 

You obviously don't get the tax benefits of real estate, but if you're just looking for "returns", then lending your money out could be advantageous for your goal.

By not increasing rent enough each year you're losing money (this is the truth).If they push back hard or say they're leaving, you can always negotiate and back it off a little.

Manage their properties Provide welcome gifts/ goodie bags for their guests before check in Hauling extra supplies/ misc items to return to stores or other properties--Any other ideas that I can pitch to make myself more marketable?

I really don't make a lot of money as a teacher and I don't have a lot of funds to get started.

Our downpayment and rehab money comes from money we’ve saved ourselves from our jobs.