He gives realistic no fluff advice for those starting out and of course that's a huge part of BP audience not the guru's or the guys at are at the top already or say they are.. but real advice on how to work in a local market and do the things it takes to get there and how long it generally will take a person if they are dedicated extremely focused on the goal as Steve and his family were. 

@Tom StevensonHELOC money is extremely expensive - if you buy something that is 100% financed, either entirely with the proceeds from the HELOC, or with HELOC money for the down payment and a conventional loan, you will lose money.

You can probably find an online link about how extreme temperature changes are not the ideal way to heat a home and cost more in the long run.I don't know what the local rental rules are where you are, but look them up and see if you can give her notice. 

Prices will be extremely high - I don't think most investors are buying in these areas unless you have a lot of money and plan to house hack.  

Transferring a 1031 exchange property into an LLC shortly after purchase typically won’t trigger immediate tax consequences for your wife if the LLC is a disregarded entity, as you file jointly.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

So, if you can dump 5k onto the HELOC early in the month, and pull that out progressively over the course of the month, you're saving 2,500 * (.04 / 12) = $8 per month (2,500 would be the average daily balance if you pulled the 5k out evenly over the month.)We did dozens of hypotheticals, and even the more extreme ones topped out at $10 per month.

I've personally done 60 deals in Detroit this year and I've seen monthly property taxes anywhere from $20/mo (extremely rare) to $350/month.

Quote from @Kar Sun: My tenant's lease is coming to a close and I am relieved she will be moving soon.She has been paying on time but has been extremely unpleasant and rude.While the money does not smell my mental sanity is more important than money in this case.She sent me a registered letter stating that she feels "unsafe because we have not done the fixes the way she wanted it".She requests to have her witness for a walkthrough.In my state a walkthrough is required but I am not about to grant it to her to bring any witnesses as that is not in my contract.If she feels unsafe she does not have t be present.I also do not treat a final walkthrough with a tenant as a final sign off.This walkthrough does not include a detailed inspection of the plumbing and the appliances that will be done after she departs.This is simply for the visible cosmetic issues and should take less than 1 hr.  

I have two vacancies in two different markets and it has been extremely slow despite the positive feedback and price. 

Thanks in advance.Hi Vhernadette, the truth is replacing a $500k salary in just a few years is extremely ambitious, even for someone with the right mindset.