There's a 3rd party entity recording everything. 

And, of course, there wouldn't be the knowledge or investment without the worker in the first place, so people are always wanting to assign value to these less calculable items (like you, the investor, wants to assign value to the less calculable risks involved).At some point w complicating factors, and without degrees in actuarial science, most of us throw up our hands and decide it's easier to just split 50-50, 60-40, or whatever, assuming both parties are educated and comfortable with the risks and values over the life of the investment.

A tree fell on one of my properties, and the other party is denying my claim. 

And I travelled the country for 10 years w/o and then w/ kids so agreed - well stocked is really nice if it's large parties... for us working travelers I just wanted cleanliness - rather have clean and sparse than hairs/food/trash left behind and it's stocked to the hilt

They're getting to be a bit hard to find as replacements, also.3rd parties make an 18V NiMH battery which fits the tools nicely, but does NOT fit in the DeWalt charger for NiCads.

I was told I couldn't utilize a 1031 exchange because the second property had a lower value than the first, so I didn't bother with a 3rd party 1031 holding company.   

If you bring in passive investors, you will need to follow some SEC rules and do a PPM.You will need some seed/pursuit capital to tie up the deal (deposits, 3rd party reports, lender deposit, etc). 

@Robert Kornmeyer depends on your financial situation but definitely a multifamily is the way to goThey range from 600k-the moon Best value add areas are JP/Dorchester on the path of gentrification Great section 8 market as well and get high quality tenants Allston/Brighton/Brookline is more upscale and Multis start @1m but definitely a market not going anywhere anytime soonSouthie and east boston are great but youre late to the party on those

It's a solid contract that covers the common disclosures in a purchase, and then we add the Income Addendum which covers the lease, move-in checklist, rent roll, etc for an investment property.Very few will ever provide the screening documents, in my case it is against the agreement I have to be able to screen parties.

@Eric Lee Nation    I did ins claims in another life for 14 years - I do not recommend that EVER as someone's employment but I did learn a few things.Here's 2 things agents or no one will tell you -- your Replacement value (RV) on the house is JUICED up way higher than what's realistic -- however you have a relatively inexpensive house so it's not much of an issue - but typically the reason they juice the RV is to get your wind/hail deductible higher -- typically 1%, 2%, 3%, 5% of RV is what your wind/hail deductible will be even if you had a $1k or whatever other deductible they offer for any other peril -- so follow me for a minute - you bought a rental for $150k -- they've juiced the replacement cost to $250k the most likely loss in KS or the midwest in general is going to be wind/hail --- the math actuarial nerds do this so the casino or the ins company in this case has the upper hand -- do the math what a 2% or 3% deductible on a $250k house will be -- I have a commercial building insd for over a million -- the lowest wind/hail ded they will give me is 5% -- the only reason I have ins at this point is I'm required to -- the wind hail coverage is worthless to me with as high as the deductible is.Anyways with that out of the way - ask your agent if you have a 3% option - at that RCV cost they figured of $99k that wouldnt be much different than the $2500 all perils coverage you have now -- Also I'd wager as someone mentioned dropping the med payments to others coverage -- it probably wont make a bit of difference in your policy cost -- I could be wrong - but I'd guess $25-50 dollars a year -- your coverage is the price it is due to the perceived wind/hail risk the company is putting on KS.I'm with Big Red and have been for a # of years -- your price to insure that house is on par with what I get from them for that replacement cost -- though i think State Farms game is a bit different they really jack up the Replacement cost so I have higher wind/hail deductibles -- I'd make out good if the house burnt down or a tornado destroyed it - but for a hail claim there wouldnt be much there.