Preserve and protect the assets I have.Baltazar-thank you for the nice comments about my book. I

Mileage and meals Money paid for RE tax book is also tax deduction.

The most recent book I read is Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss. 

The first rule of investing in my book is "Be a good investor" I have prolly said this a dozen times over the years on this site, it not weather realestate is a good investment, but weather you are a good realestate investor. 1.

The book is focused on Milwaukee, but it sounds like this area in Chicago has the same profile.Anyone curious to learn more about what these neighborhoods are really like should give it a read.

I began to consider how I spend my income and my future outlook in ways I have never done before in my life and to be honest it got me started in real estate more than any other book I read .

@Quamal Burton I have not read the book Set For Life, but if the message is to save up one years expenses and quit your job on $600 cash flow, then the book is giving dangerous advice. 

I referenced it here as my inspirational view of "oh, so that's how savvy investors can make it" - though I'm not expecting this kind of return out of the gate, and I apologize if I mislead.Credit for the below example goes to Brian Murray's book (I pulled this example from the online version available as a sample on Amazon since I only have the audio book):Bank Financing: $750K @ 5%Seller Financing: $150K @ 5%Cash: $100KTotal: $1MGross Revenue: $200K/yearExpenses: $100K/yearNOI: $100K/yearDebt Service: $63K/year$37K/$100K = 37% Cash-on-Cash-Return with a 2.7 year payback period.Principal paydown first 5 years = ~$103K or $20K/yearRevised NOI = $37K + $20K or a 57% annual return.Doing the math, at 5 years, the value creation is $9.54 for each $1 invested.

One thing I didn't mention that I disagree with in the book is the idea that every hour is, or can be, a profitable one at the same financial level.

Not an argument in my book! I