There's one common theme here, your dollar will be worth less.

Imagine the signs that say "Live, Laugh, Love" from Home Goods and a lemon-themed kitchen... 

Purchase price: $345,000 Cash invested: $69,000 Fiance & I are looking for a place to move into before the wedding, but didn't break the bank because we weren't sure where the future would take us.Found this nice 1br, 1ba luxury townhouse on top of a garage & carport, and almost immediately put in an offer ~$4k below asking.Went the traditional 20% down route with a 3.75% fixed 30-year mortgage.COA/HOA dues are ~$250 but include all exterior maintenance (including snow) & water.Purchased essentially move-in ready.

Part of my passion with the short term rentals has been furnishing each property and choosing theme for each properties. 

Also, there is a good meetup in Fairfield the last Wed of the month.  

Several of my colleagues should be there, trying to get down there as well after a wedding I have that weekend.

But 3 days after our wedding last year on October and 15th we both told our bosses to kick rocks (politely and professionally of course) and started a contracting company for home remodeling.

Having negotiated hundreds of deals, the common theme among buyers who actually get to the closing table is an emotional investment -- the larger the emotional investment, the more likely the deal is to close.All that said, I agree the numbers are important, and without that piece, you're fighting an uphill battle.

The theme I hear in your writing is 'life changing!'

(It's really not as fun as it looks like on HGTV.)I've talked to a few thousand investors in the last decade and the common theme I hear from those with a great career is that they wished they had not acquired their own properties and tried to manage them.