What you're describing is a pretty solid strategy, and a good way to get your foot in the door.

What you are describing is exactly what I do. 

And I can’t even begin to describe how incompetent and aloof they were.

@Mohsin Mazhar- thanks and sorry for the situation ....If you can sell the properties without  taking a loss  on them - I would recommend selling ...the  situations you describe will definitely continue  over time ...in one shape or another .   

When I use my line of credit to make a downpayment on a new investment I am doing something similar to what you describe.

What animal describes having a lukewarm prognosis for prices in my area? 

Describe a magical tool that would solve the most challenging part of real estate investing.Thank you for taking the time to read this.

.• Both sales either meet the Eligibility Test or qualify forpartial tax benefits, as described earlier.Also, if your sale of vacant land meets all these requirements, you must treat that sale and the sale of your homeas a single transaction for tax purposes

What Kate describes is basic Due diligence one oh one before U close. and if Kate is relying on her mentor or their VAs to do her due diligence I can tell you that is not the way to go about it..

Haha they had a tenant on the radio this morning describing the same thing...said her house wouldn't get below 80 - landlord told her she set it too low.