However, the dba would be a cost effective way to legally use a company name instead of your personal name, although from a legal perspective they're one and the same.You can also open checking account(s) in the name of the dba.

There were a lot of houses I would go to and see fresh snow with no foot prints that meant no one had been to the house and that was a consideration in the offer I made.Looking forward to snow this year :)

You can think of it as a service that is helping you, and that is worth some money.From the contractors perspective, it also depends on other things.  

Being a broker, property manager and active real estate investor, I have different perspective on real estate deals and what I look for.

It helps to see things from somebody else's perspective that knows what they are talking about.

That said, from a learning and mentorship perspective, local would be awesome, but your willingness to help from anywhere would be greatly appreciated.

@Chad Carson I may have a different perspective than a lot of landlords. since I use to own a public accounting firm, it is almost impossible for me to give up an accounting program and use Buildium.

@Jillian Risch - Welcome to BP.Feel free to ask questions and try to get different perspectives from the audience on this group.

When the stock market deflates, it'll take the RE market with it...Account Closed - very interesting perspective.

Investors can buy in for the price of a single-family home or a single share of stock.But the plunge in U.S. home prices in the financial crisis should be a fresh reminder that bets on housing can sour in a hurry.The latest deals often don't depend on home values going up, which sets them apart from the house-flipping strategies that cost many home buyers dearly when the market collapsed.