A pay site is ok with me if it cuts down on the time.

If not, Apple's Final Cut Pro is now only $300.  

The best move-in special is something that adds value to the apt too (i.e. a cutting board so they don't scuff up your counters or a ceiling fan installed in a room)- find somewhere else to advertise your rents (from another BP post I learned about rentlinx.com and it's a great tool I use every day)- do a resident referral program - give them money (that is less than the lowered-rent option over course of a year) for someone they refer who signs a 12-month lease- crazy tip but always have your rent prices end in a $9 - there's a lot of studies that support this and you get the most out of your rent as possibleAt the end of the day, if your rent is way higher than everything around you then you'll simply have to lower it.

When we went to replace them we had to saw cut them out of the walls.I purchased the house for $50,000, and put about $12,000 into it.

I did find out that installers are not allowed to run new wire without the landlords permission though. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/installing-consumer-owned-antennas-and-satellite-dishes There is some case law: http://petriestocking.com/blog/2012/08/08/landlord-sues-the-dish-network-for-the-costs-to-remove-satellite-dishes-from-his-rental-property-and-wins/ I found this helpful webpage: http://free-landlord-help.winnfreenet.com/dish.phpBiggerPockets dosen't seem to like links to some websites, so you will have to cut and paste.

Getting into a 2-4 unit property with FHA, or other options, is a good way to figure out if you are cut out for real estate investing.

another option that seems a little risky at first but can cut a budget quite a bit is to hire a GC at a reasonable hourly rate vs a bid. 

The broker gets a cut of the commission earned by any of the agents working under the broker's license

Besides that fact that determining appreciation could be a major issue in 3-5 years, Id tell the seller that if you are going to own the property you're taking the risk and get any appreciation.Just going off what you're saying in theory you could get zero cash flow for 5 years and then STILL have to cut the seller a check for appreciation? 

Now of course what I sell it for over that is my cut but I have never cowholesaled a property nor have I written an option to put on an existing contract.