It seems that first months rent would be better since I require preauthorized recurring electronic payments.

We are constantly finding properties with a real return (including all recurring costs) in the 5% to 7% range (single family).

During that same amount of time, you could've invested $5,000 into a software business and scaled it up to $10k monthly recurring revenue or $100k a year in less than 6 months (very hypothetical, but you get the point).Sure, you can get higher cash on cash return percentages for larger size deals, but it still takes so much more time to get a return (since your investment dollar amount also grows in proportion)....I was really interested in learning more about investing in multi family deals, until I came to this realization.

I'd like to know what the bare minimum cost would be, both upfront and recurring, if all I want out of it (at least for now) is to be able to access the MLS and view houses.

I have planned for my very soon to be paid off rental unit to provide a revenue stream that will help me begin to grow my infant real estate business into something that will allow me to transition out of "work for pay" and into "invest for recurring income" so that I can begin to play some instead of work every day .

At the moment I don't have enough recurring operations work to make this a necessity (my company has our operations covered).

On the same note --- with Nancy - You are making way too much work for yourselves.Set up an auto withdrawal with your utility, phone, mortgage and for those recurring expenses.

Are there any recurring REI meet-ups in Tucson or Sierra Vista?

I you get the HELOC and change your mind, no harm no foul, as long as you haven't pulled any money out of it, it doesn't cost you too much or create a recurring payment or mortgage due.

Have you had any recurring problems ?