You just gave in your example above a return of 10% and I am telling you you would bet the entire 10% versus the insurance return which would be barely 4.25% based on your own calculations. 

Like you, I worked hard for what I have (after grad school other than a rental I bought and a small retirement savings, I had barely anything in the bank). 

You minimize your risk of being over leveraged, and barely making ends meet with the rental income. 

As my wife and I figured out, living in our current primary, we barely go to the basement.thanks

I would say the messageboard is pretty bare.

at a bare minimum, new paint and carpet/plank everywhere and changing out all the cabinet hardware, electrical covers, fresh light fixtures, etc. will make things look fresh and clean.

I tried not to laugh but It was a new sign with almost the exact same wording and font and style but it says, that items cannot be stored with "the exception of one pink bike" There was no bike parked there yet but it really annoys me that in the last day or two "someone" changed this sign.It literally said that No storage with the exception of one pink bike! 

Most of my tenants are paycheck to paycheck and barely making rent now.

Most homebuyers walk into a home with broken weird color blinds, gross dark burgundy and mustard paint and an old icky pink carpet and can't imagine the potential.

You can be profitable by barely covering your costs, by making loads of money or anything in between.