I was on the HOA board of a luxury building in San Francisco and you would be surprised at how many people will let their dogs pop and pee in the common areas (killing very expensive plantings).

We were planning $600/mo mortgage payment, $100/mo insurance & $100/mo taxes - balloon payment in 5 yrs.We are providing $5k to pay back taxes ($4k), back hoa ($125), pump septic & grease trap clean out ($225), survey ($600)  & our children are paying closing costs ($1500).Deal stalled as owner backed out on seller finance.Suggestions?

My advice would be to focus on building a strong network—connecting with other investors, wholesalers, and real estate agents is key.

In Valencia we have multiple flips that we are now finishing (a building and a garage that we are transforming into apartments).

In that case, you would have no cash in your pocket but get tax bill.Assuming you are using an LLC or a sole proprietorship, you pay the taxes on net income when you pay your personal income taxes.

If you can find a house or duplex where rental income covers a significant portion of the mortgage, it could help you build equity while minimizing your living expenses.I'd recommend looking into first-time homebuyer programs in your area, and as always, make sure the numbers work for you.

The difficulty is always going to be whats "most comfortable" for your family and what property will provide the highest return/ROE to help build a life of financial freedom for your family.

Bought my first apartment building but only 6 apartments.

Picture a developer that purchases a piece of land and has sites to build on (or build model homes).

I haven't noticed any services that handle appealing property tax assessments in the Bay Area here.