@Clint Harris holy cow. as an investor in wilmington as well, WOW.

I've only been on my journey researching for the past month chomping at the bit to get out there and buy a home...however my wife and I signed a purchase agreement back in January on a new house build so I decided to postpone buying my first property until we close on our new home in October/November time frame....However, the more information I keep digesting, the more I keep thinking why don't I cash-out refi our current property and keep it as my "first property" to rent out?

:)A counter point to the statement that all investments are technically out of our direct control - Yes, you are correct, I cannot control Apple, Intel or Amazon, however, if I have a brokerage account containing those stocks, I can certainly reallocate my risk within minutes buy selling/buying, where in a partnership type investment, my money is tied up for a set amount of time.Once again, thank you for posting - I have a lot more to digest and think about, which I am grateful for. 

Save the hassle of exploring markets and information as I have it all condensed into one form for you with markets you didn't even know were cash cows.  

STRs are a bit more work but they’re cash cows. 

up there,   the city council 'turned blue' in the last election cycle so some kind of regulations are probably going to arrive eventually.I do intend to eventually sell off my remaining seattle property,  but for now as its fully updated,  meets inspection rules, attracting good tenants and running smoothly its in the cash-cow phase of ownership and I'm not in a hurry to divest it.

Here's the reader's digest version:They do not have a written agreement (and at this point cannot agree on one)She wants to sell, he does not (he is not on the mortgage but is on the title)Tenants that were month to month are moving at the end of the month, no rental listing existsTo get the property, he put up a down payment (over $50k), and she secured the mortgageWhat he wants in a buyout or sale is unreasonable (after lawyer review), and even though they still cannot agree on a partnership agreement, he wants to list the rental and get tenants in ASAP.

My tax attorney, holly-cow I can't sit down with the guy because I know he's going to get pumped and go on for an hour on tax law if I let him.

Organic farm/hire the laborHand picked cotton farm/hire the laborIf it's fenced, graze others cows and horses for a fee.Bring in some old "Stuff" to hide behind, and make it a paintball war park.Turn it into a vehicle wrecking/recycling yard.Set up hay bales and make it into an archery park, charge admission.Invest in some folding tables, chairs and tents and advertise it for quinceañera parties and wedding receptions.

Holy cow, the world is ending.