Well, I'm asking all of you, if you had previously invested some $$$ in such a tax shelter and THEN found the miracle of REAL ESTATE, would you withdraw those registered dollars knowing the government will withhold a good portion of that amount as withholding taxes?

But when I checked with my lender, they only will lend with a combined 80% LTV, including the seller financing portion. 

I would hire one of them, similar to a local collection agency but more focused on pursuing tenants. search the phone book or google for one of those in your area, they will likely be in the same collection agency sections. many of them, you dont pay anything upfront, just a portion of the recovered amount goes to them, pretty easy.

Hi there - thought i would ask the bigger pockets community in case there is someone who has done this before - I own a 4plex with my sister and ex-brother-in-law. they want out, so I want to buy their shares. they each own a quarter. i will assume their portion of the mortgage loan, but they also have some equity, i'm thinking about 40k to each, and they have agreed to carry that loan with seller financing over 10 years. but my question is, in this scenario, can the loan to them be secured by the property?

It essentially turns a portion of her equity into an annuity that can pay her every month for many years or the rest of her life.

Don't forget the fact that a very large portion (50%?)

Even if you are doing it yourself, it is your work(rather than your investment) that is earning that portion of the profits. 

Thank you both,  @Peter MacKercher, the contractor friend is not for the GC portion, but to pre-inspect homes for things I may not know to look for.  

Being exposed to all sorts of new construction, when I walk into a rehab property and see the demo portion, I can't believe what I see.

What are the opinions you all have regarding paying a mortgage (a minimal mortgage on a smaller unit) and allowing renters to rent the unit while also simultaneously renting a unit ourselves and using the extra cash from the rental (that we are renting out and own) to pay for all of the rental property mortgage and a small portion of our personal monthly rent?