Also if you end up with a complaint before a real estate commission, fair housing commission, anything of that sort...you are by and large guilty until proven innocent, as opposed to the opposite you would enjoy a member of the public in a court room.Fines for innocent mistakes can be drastic. 

I'm probably guilty of this myself, not having had a clue about the 50% rule, notes, or the true inner workings of the REO Broker Brotherhood.

"Innocent until proven guilty" is in our constitution, "personally obligated until proven otherwise" is what applies here. 

I tell you, it isn't easy "pleading ignorance" for me, no matter how much money is involved.

I am about to purchase my first home and feel guilty for not being too sure on how it is as an investment property.The house I am about to purchase if brought up to the surrounding areas standards would definitely increase in value, (estimate double the purchase price) but should I look at living there for a couple of years as holding costs?

I'm still guilty of it but now try to minimize it to a weekly vs. daily basis.Sometimes, you may have more time to give than others.

That is, even at the confiscatory terms most HML's charge (and we're guilty), it’s almost always in the financial interest of a rehabber to borrow the money.Similarly, if your retirement plan is going to partner, and earn 50% of the profit, it will have to pay UBIT at a rate that quickly approaches 39.6% as shown here.

Unless you want to be guilty of selling a security without a license, learn how to do it properly.

It sounds like your sister is making you feel guilty about the situation or you are making yourself feel guilty.

I strongly suspect that your household doesn't like to compromise on lifestyle (don't take that personally, it is very common and I have been guilty of it too).