I really don't want to do it to become a real-estate agent and some people may view that as a waste of money just to take the classes and not actually become an agent.

Mike, the minute someone spouts off their years of service is the minute I know I'm wasting my breath but I'll try anyways.

There's several alternatives about how to get your parents to a better place that don't have any effect on your living arrangements.

I feel it's important to understand how to effectively manage tenants so that I can effectively manage my property managers.I am comfortable with my projections...

Deeds are effective when executed, not filed. :)

I recently WASTED a bunch of money on a workshop and want to form (or join) a mastermind group in the area.

Google it, and the 1st link from office.mircosoft.com should be the template you need.3. for the Excel spreadsheet, think of time progressing downwards; the further down in the rows you are, the further through the months4. to map each property, give each one 5 columns {Month #, Mortgage Balance, Principal, Interest, Additional Payment} * that is the month you're on in your repayment to the bank (1-360) * balance due to the bank * that month's principal payment (this is why it's handy to have the amortiation worksheet) * interest for that month * and what additional payments you'll kick in from the other properties.5. when adding a new property to the sheet, just list the following as headers so you can add them into your equations {purchase price, down payment, P&I, cashflow when mortgaged, cashflow when paid-off}.6. to make this all work, you take an iterative process * start by charting your 1st and only property, and plot it out so it takes 360 months to pay off * add in your 2nd property, and add its cashflow to the "additional payments" on you 1st (or have your 1st property's cashflow pushed into your 2nd .. whatever you like) * keep doing this up to your 15th (or in my spreadsheet's case, my 5th property)Some insights I've gained:* the snowball effect works!

When the IRS tax code was changed in 1986, limiting the losses to essentially $25,000 per year, there was a drastic effect on resort property.

Usually the most effective treatment that will kill them and their eggs is heat...then the question is what can you and can't you heat treat.

.* I do not know anything about how to evaluate real estate values (but I think I can learn), or the costs of renovation.All that said, I believe that I could be successful in scouring near and far for properties with equity that could be purchased or optioned at attractive prices IF I can partner up with investors with cash and with individuals who know how to renovate cost effectively.