Then, once each rental is done this way and applied to income or debt, they are going calculate your DTI and qualify or deny you based on the DTI requirements of that particular loan program (28%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 60+% back in 2005, whatever).The above underwriting method is know as "washing" the debt of each rental property with its income.Another way that they do it is they simply take the PITI of each property straight to the debt, and the rental income from each property straight to the income (usually also reduced to 75%); rather than washing it first.It is advantageous to the borrower's qualifications to "wash" the PITI with the rental income and then apply the remainder, whether positive or negative, to income or debt. 

It is simply a means of allowing us to more easily compare properties whether they are similar or not based on the value created per dollar spent on a property. 

I see a lot of newer agents if they don't have a warm market or sphere to tap into.. they will get on a big producers team.. this can jump start you.out our way agencies have lead creation systems and will literally hand you web leads for listings or sales.My wife had taken a few year hiatus and to kind of jump start ( her normal business is referrals) but she wanted to work some leads and get going and it worked very well she made many sales and got a few listing which in this market is simply money in the bank. find your niche.. and remember 95% of agents all try the same thing.. you may want to specialize.. and commerical agents though dog tough to start if you make it.. its a really good business once your established.

Simply having an interest in Real Estate won't take you there.

It sounds like you're on the right track - living at home to cut costs and paying down your bills.

Unless it's two lots, most municipalities will not allow this (OR it will be difficult to gain approval based on simply wanting to make more money renting space out.

I am in need of a new roof soon and have been looking into solar panels on my roof as an option to cut my electric bill.

Re laundry money, i never include this in my calculation - i simply look at it as bonus income. your vacancy at 3% sounds low, again not knowing the location its hard to sell. 5% would be my lower estimate in high demand location and proven 100% occupancy in the last 2-3 years.Repairs and maintenance, unless the property was recently renovated top to bottom or you would renew the large items like roofs, HVAC, water heaters etc 5% and 4$ is tight. 

Since they export very little steel to the US they could simply lower the price to other markets even lower. 

@Steven Denio Construction fencing may scare off buyers (nobody wants to live next to a construction site) even if you can't reuse the poles it just takes a few cuts with wire cutters to take down the main fence part at which point it can be rolled up and used elsewhere.