My properties are SE Chicago.

SGLI is a term policy there is no cash value and the same is true for the civilian term policies, there is no real cash value per se in term insurance.If your coverage had been whole life you'd be paying a heck of a lot more than what you have been.You have the option to convert your policy to a term or whole life product, basically all this amounts to is guaranteed insurability in getting a new policy at your current age.It's a good idea to have a small whole life type policy for your old age, final expenses and debts if any.

Tamara, if youu se the postlets html code to paste into craigslist, make sure the ad is actually visible.

Wow! This is a sweet web site. I'm new to real-estate investing and currently going though the closing process on my first investment property. Plan on renovating then renting. The house has the org. 1950's metal cab...

Se my siggy.

I was quoted $1200 - $1400 for a ~30ft sour gum tree removal in SE Louisiana and thought that was high. 

Any help would be appreciated.If you do one flip, then you might be able to avoid the SE taxes. 

You need to be self employed or be an owner of your Corp with active income that is subject to SE tax to fund solo 401k.If  the 401k that you referring in your post is your employer provided 401k, they/ their trust company probably will not offer RE as one of their asset classes, generally. 

That being said, you can drastically reduce your SE taxes by flipping houses in an S-Corp.

Half of the SE taxes would be approximately $$7,000.