I really enjoyed the book and I read it cover to cover (except for skimming the veterans section as it does not apply to me).If you are a total beginner living in an expensive area, it is important to know all of the levers you can pull to secure your first property.

Those "one more times" happen everywhere....and, I repeat what I said above, "Michigan isn't in Detroit".Joe, this doesn't apply to just Detroit.

I have students applying to live in an apartment and their parents pay.  

Once his name is off the deed list of owners, the lien should (maybe, I'm not lawyer) no longer apply. 

Have her call and apply to the united way (or whomever is administering the program in your area).

There have been many successful exchanges following this line of reasoning but it too should not be applied as an umbrella over all.The truth of the minimum time the property needs to be rented after conversion from primary residence to full time rental lies not in a specific time but rather with your demonstrable intent.  

As it turns out (which they never told me), that tenant backed out and they apparently then applied for Section 8 and now have a renter in place paying $980 ($127 of which she pays and $857 of which the housing authority pays) and supposedly there is some government program that is making up the difference (I have yet to see any documentation on this).

I would say to go ahead and fix the kitchen then add the cost to the next month's bill as "additional rent"How is your lease worded in terms of monies applied? 

@Ryan York Hey Ryan...Here's the deal if it is 5 units or more it commercial and commercial evaluation applies.  4 units or less, is considered residential, and comps apply.

I just applied to a home inspector position here in Fairfield, CT.