If I do something "wrong" you can feel free to point that out too, but as I said this is first and foremost a learning exercise so don't snicker behind my back ;) Stay tuned!

This was more so an exercise in learning and critiquing my logic and process but hey, if I can make the deal work, all the better!

It is NOT a beginner exercise.

We like this method for several reasons, 1) we are staying focused on the area we want to invest, 2) we get to know the people in the neighborhood and build relationships with them, 3) we see how every house changes over time so we can identify the ones that are starting to have problems 4) we get to spend time as a family exercising and working on the family business.Your second question, ask the neighbors and talk to the city.

No strategy in the stock market gives you direct control, so trying to find a stock strategy to fit REI is probably an exercise in futility.  

Btw, since I'm inspired by you're ask, I'm going to call Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran to come out to the Summit and help us raise some money for Duc Son Orphanage, and see what they say :)Maybe I'll also go on a hike and get some exercise ;)

A very mutually beneficial exchange of time, exercise, and knowledge.p.s.

You can also attempt to locate and then tie up potential replacement properties through putting them under contract with an extended closing period or tie them up with a lease with an option to buy so that you have control over when to exercise the option and close on the purchase.

Or, a question I'm even more interested in: assuming you haven't yet done that exercise, and given you're all in on scale of rentals, how have you approached this to get enough confidence that it'll work out well for the portfolio you're building?

Do I need to quit exercising for a period of time?