But if the economy weakens it can only add to credit-related problems.It will take some more time to gauge whether the problems of sub prime mortgages have seeped into Alt-A mortgages and the broader mortgage market, and understand its true impact on mortgage rates.

This is a great site and I am glad I found it.Needless to say all of this brainstorming has spawned another question related to determining a good deal using the method described above and by other more experienced forum members.

The builder is a relative if that matters at all.Any help would be great.

Tenants can't relate to 'clean' photographs and documentation from rug cleaners and maids.

So, it seems clear (at least to me) that true profit is gained from a property where the income from rentals amounts to more that all the expenses related to that property.

It should always be "working for you" in one form or another.When analyzing a deal, even a "deal you already own", in order to compare apples-to-apples, you should pretend you have a 30-year 90% mortgage, or pretend to take out a 90% home equity loan on your property, pretend to invest that cash in something relatively safe (or risky as is your risk tolerance allows), add the income from that investment to the rental income, and THEN see if it still positive cashflows.

There is a relatively new strategy called the Deferred Sales Trust or DST.

you have to have an accurate rehab estimate, and the total (purchase+ rehab+ holding/marketing) has to be figured relative to a reasonable sales price.

Property taxes and upkeep costs cower in relation to possible gains, even if just looking to flip.

people love talking about themselves and things that relate to them.