While I can see the long term benefits, being a landlord has been very trying.

As a pass through entity, LLCs won't provide you with any tax benefits that you wouldn't have by just filing your rental property on a Schedule C on your personal return.

This is only a lease with a one page option that gives the Tenant/Buyer the option to purchase the home at a predetermined price at the end of the term and if they stop paying the rent the Landlord/Owner can evict, if the Tenant/Buyer decides not to buy at the end they can walk away and the Landlord/Owner got the benefit of a long term tenant who took better care of the home because they were planning on buying the home instead of just renting.Remember to be successful action is the key...Marv Rousselow

I have a thick skin and I assume others do as well, let's face it one of the "benefits" of posting questions on line is that you know you may get a bit "flamed" for your posts.Again, I could just tell everyone "wow, you're a genius, you'll be a millionaire in no time" like the gurus do.

You can still get a lot of benefit from using an agent as long as everyone understands up front what your situation is and what you are looking for.A second option (less likely to work well) is to tell the listing agent on the home that you want to make an offer and represent yourself IF they will drop the full commissions down and the seller credits those savings to your closing costs.

Then I eventually just left it at the "Salvation Army Drop of Box" to allow someone else to benefit from it.

This site can be a huge benefit if investors and would-be investors utilize it and reply to new threads and post regular replies.I am first in line to help any investor with what I know..... but the world works better when everyone contributes.Just my two cents... well, one cent actually.

For instance, what is the best type of for profit/not for profit charter I can use that will serve the most benefits?

this would be a great side-benefit for many of my friends who are employees of big companies2.

.- This situations get exacerbated in my 2006 situation because I am paying the mortgage and taxes without any occupancy and apparently without any tax benefit!