I thought security deposits had to be retained on hand. 

I know a few people who get calls off letters sure, but its still a vetting process to get to those most motivated. 

Hi Chris,Yes deals are a lot more difficult to pencil out due to the interest rates, and a lot of people are putting more down (30-35%) to make the numbers work.

In my state, you can evict using John and Jane Doe but it is usually more efficient to have the real names of people you want to evict?

Feel free to reach out or send me an email I can walk you through a few locations based on your preference.There are also some other great counties that a lot of people are not really talking about yet I can share those as well.

That is: people on this thread are suggesting taxation can be avoided by requesting a price reduction or credit in-lieu of a commission. 

You could add insulation between the walls but that will not stop vibration.I would tell tenants not much you can do. people have the same issues in apartments.

You asked about the risks and benefits of using leverage in real estate investing.The reality is leverage cannot be avoided, usually, in real estate investing.The risks are you get over-leveraged and your don't have enough cashflow and reserves to weather a market shift, extended vacancy, or major repair.The advantage is you increase your ROI by using other people's money and as little of your own money as possible.

Many people get suckered into paying cash, and then the contractor disappears.

I've been interested in becoming a farmer for as long as I can remember, and as I've looked at the viability of getting into farming, I've seen how much debt people go into to purchase land and equipment, and how crippling that debt can be for both the farmer and their family.