Seed Capital is best raised at home, you will find the money you seek through effective budgeting and perseverance.

1) if the person who gave the gift recognized it on their tax return as a gift you don’t owe tax, and there is a large gift lifetime gift limit (over 5m 2) property tax has nothing to do with income tax, which is what the gift has effect on.

They suggested that I address the check to the county directly, and they will mail it out on my behalf.

Here’s an article that addresses your question in more detail:http://homeguides.sfgate.com/can-landlord-deny-handicapped-parking-space-96420.html.

Even if you do not address the item immediately, at least you know what you are facing and any expenses involved. 

@Jacob StephenYes, check with your agent, but generally you should have a liability portion in your policy that would address damages like this.

The lender gives you a slightly higher rate, and THEY pay those costs for you.This strategy is a great short-term strategy, because most times it takes about 5-7 years +/- to break even on paying those costs.Which is why for many real estate investors, especially flippers, this is a better strategy, and one that I educate all my clients about.Everyone is so caught up in the lowest rate, when in fact overall cost-effectiveness and knowing the long-term plan are more important than rate. 

If that is the case, creating a company to have the rental properties under the company will have the same effect - your loss from the rental properties will be reported on K-1 (instead of Schedule E), which will be subject to same limitations. 

google the email address.... and it'll probably come up as a scam.

This logic can extend to a larger metro's impact on the nation's economy, which in turn could have effects in unrelated markets, through the drivers you mentioned, Fed Funds Rate, equities/debt market, ect...In short, all real estate is local and thinking that just because the the Case Schiller says or trends one way is no reason assume 100% correlation to your local market.