As long as you’re not totally going in blind and being completely reckless, start skinning!

Dave in general is great at helping the reckless and the uninformed.  

A lot of people may consider these options borderline reckless, but I've used the following sources at different points in time:Credit Cards - You can cash advance or pay suppliers directly.Personal Loans - I've used the following: Prosper, Lending Club, SoFi, Best Egg, Discover Personal Loans, USAA Personal Loans (these are by far the simplest, if you're a member).

Perfect gets in the way of done, we shouldn't be reckless or take risks that aren't needed or justified but this business is about calculated risks.

My main issue is that I feel the plans are somewhat recklessly promoted as the key to financial freedom that can't possibly backfire or have any downside.The overall impression from the users that I've talked with is that these plans can be useful to help add a little juice to your overall investment returns.

How do responsible people compete in a market when your competition is willing to do such reckless things to win? 

I was suffering from "analysis paralysis" and finally reached a point where I was so fed up with sitting on the sidelines that I just made an offer a few hours ago for a rental that I KNOW is overpaying (the numbers still work, don't take my advice to mean you can be reckless) just to break through that initial barrier and get that first property that everyone says is the hardest (I haven't heard back if I got it yet..).

I get what you say saying and there is no sense in being reckless, but take into account the real risks and act accordingly.  

Finally I want to remind everyone of what the law says in regards to knowingly renting a unit to an illegal alien:https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-1907-title-8-usc-1324a-offensesHarboring -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii) makes it an offense for any person who -- knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation.

If you don’t practice safety in your own office first then the rest of your attempts at safety will fall apart.If you want to keep yourself and your business safe, here’s what you’ll need to do.Keep Personal Information Stored AwayKeeping personal information (finances, client contact info, etc.) out in plain sight on your desk is reckless and provides an easy opportunity for identity thieves posing as clients.