The damage is about $15k.I contacted our insurance and they are denying our claim, citing the following:collapse, including any of the following conditions of property or any part of the property: (1) An abrupt falling down or caving in; (2) Loss of structural integrity, including separation of parts of the property or property in danger of falling down or caving in; or (3)Any cracking, bulging, sagging, bending, leaning, settling, shrinkage or expansion as such condition relates to (1) or (2) aboveTheir reasoning is that the tree didn't fall directly on the wall itself, and claim that the basement was faulty prior to the incident.

Yep, TX was never land constrained when building, so most opted for SFR, rarely duplex and even fewer 4 units.

And may present you with some degree of physical danger and you may need to be armed.....can you handle this lifestyle for a few bucks?

We still have a good amount of inventory (compared to 2/3 fewer listings during winter), we have lower "fall" prices (compared to the spike we see in spring) and we have a dropping "sold to list" price ratio. 

For example, if they leave the dog alone in the unit, and it barks or howls, bothering the neighbors, or is aggressive toward other residents, or causes damage, these are all potential reasons that would justify forcing the removal of the animal in many locales.You can request annual updates of veterinary reports, and a letter from professional confirming the nexus between disability and the animal.By NOT establishing a policy in advance, you are left to shoot from the hip, which, in this business, can be very dangerous and costly.

The danger is that the tax man may say baloney.

It seems to me that that means: fewer units are rentals... which increases the demand for rentals... which is both good for investors, but also increases competition for them and means some investors will accept lower yields...Interesting times.

Also, you must run all of this by an attorney, you could be walking a dangerously think line with the SEC. 

Of those few, even fewer are really good at working with investors. 

Fewer offers, means more opportunities to negotiate.