With the backstory done, I am here to put in the work to start finding successful properties to buy and hold.

Agree that the Roth IRA is a nice idea (wish I put in more when I was young and qualified on income, eligibility phases out if you make too much)....And you are clearly a budding landlord, already renting out a room and on BP, so saving for the second rental property down payment sounds like an idea.

Where you can pick up for $1.5mm, put in $300k and then sell for $2.5mm.

As a result, the out of pocket cost worked out to about 65% of what would have been paid without the home warranty altogether – and that doesn’t even count the upfront cost of having the policy to begin with.I had another situation where a tenant put in a repair request since the garage door opener was not working.

If it is not heavily marketed yet then usually you can lock it up fast before it goes out to the masses.What happens is usually a 1031 buyer is the best buyer because they are generally paying big taxes if they do not buy something unless another all cash buyer steps in at a similar price.If the property is very competitive that is when I would have my capital markets commercial mortgage person go through my financials and the aspects of the property with a fine tooth comb before even thinking of agreeing to no loan contingency.Now if you have a good attorney there can generally be put many other outs in the contract besides the loan you could use in due diligence to get EM back.My deals we generally put in a long due diligence period that doesn't start until ALL the listed items required from the seller have been received.If your professionals are not helping you with this stuff you really need to think of finding others who have those skills.No legal advice given.    

We use a furniture rental company and then put in the knick knacks ourselves.  

@Joey Hampton go to meetup.com and put in "real estate investing" for Charlotte.

Everyone wants to Wholesale but not many want to put in the work needed to be successful in this business.

I was going to offer him a 25% stake in the ownership and 25% of cash flow for what he can put in now but I know they want an option to go in at 50% down the road.  

you put in zero for repair costs?