I like the Dallas, Austin, Atlanta, etc markets but it seems like it is generally overheated so I'd have to spend incredible amount of effort to get something with decent cashflow and decent price, it seems it would be easier for me to expend all that energy here instead, in my head it seems more logical.Best of luck with your indeavors

That entirely depends upon if the lending activity even rises to the level of a trade/business: Scallen v Commissioner 2002 and Cooper v Commissioner TC Memo 2015-191the total number of loans made;the time period over which the loans were made;the adequacy and nature of the taxpayer’s records;whether the loan activities were kept separate and apart from the taxpayer’s other activities;whether the taxpayer sought out the lending business;the amount of time and effort expended in the lending activity; andthe relationship between the taxpayer and his debtors.

The wording in the Texas tax code is that the tax deed holder will get reimbursed (plus 25%) for money expended "for maintaining, preserving, and safekeeping the property."

This has not been my experience with most tenants.Most of the tenants have hard time taking care of themselves.The worst is when they try to breed them and walk around with chain leashes to feed their weak egos.I just wish these people would grow up.I am an animal lover but do not believe large dogs belong in apartment complexes.They need a house and a yard to expend the energy and not claw a place up trying to get out of a small space.

 In the 237 places that don't selected, there is going to be some bitterness, particularly the ones that made a serious effort and expended significant resources.... 

And then one day I woke up and realized there's opportunities to be explored, now, and I was expending a lot of effort on things that I can't stop anyway.These days, I spend virtually zero time or energy talking, debating, or planning for catastrophe.

The wealth is already growing organically and that’s great, but why then expend your time acquiring more and more actively?

I am SO tired of those trying to make me feel expendable because I'm over 65 and have underlying health conditions. 

 - Apparently she brings him to day care regularly (maybe every day) where he usually expends his energy.  

The margins are slim, and you bust your butt and expend a lot of time and effort to eke out a few dollars.