So, rather than hoping, praying and crossing my fingers I always project the bad that can happen in the future and not what I hope will happen in the future.

I can’t put my finger on exactly when - but, I think it started about 3-5 years ago.

I know if it had not been for him I would have backed out and so far (fingers crossed) I'm really glad I didn't.

There's a saying about Greeks: shake hands with one of us and count your fingers afterwards.Perhaps this is why I treasure the value good men put in that handshake in America.

I do not believe the lease states anything about the tenant being responsible for the maintenance nor would they be responsible for major repairs on the property.I just don't want to put myself in a position where if the garage door were to fail again after the repairs, the landlord points fingers at me for not repairing the door correctly and not conducting proper maintenance.

Fingers crossed that duplex #3 will be closing before 2022

Fingers crossed!

If you have 30 SFH, all free and clear, and your average rents are $1000, which I assume is quite low- you could pay a PM 9% and still put away 25% for capex, repairs, etc and have $20k of income per month without lifting a finger OR selling off your assets. 

I could write until my fingers hurt on why starting with a flip with 15k or less is a bad idea, but I don't want to sound too negative. 

As condo/townhome investors, we generally don't have to worry too much about wind/hail since that type of damage *usually* (crosses fingers and knocks on wood) happens to common area property, which is covered by the HOA.