It is also much easier to qualify as an RE professional if the person striving to be an RE professional does does not have other full time employment. https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2010/08/04/basics-of-real-estate-professional-status-tax-irs/If we do two units of rehab in a year (each rehab likely takes a few hundred hours as the hours add up fast), then the wife qualifies fairly easy as an RE professional when combined with her usual RE duties.  

I really don't know the answer.as a kid I worked with them a bunch IE employed them but in those days they spent the night at the Y and would pass out door hangers for ciggee and beer and MD 20 20

BRRRR method.

I cannot add to the account at this point, it was a rollover from a previous employer.

I'm aware of other funding methods but I'm not sure I feel quite comfortable with other funding methods so I'm thinking we'll go with a conventional loan. 

, I highly recommend the previously referenced strategy, use your equity and purchase some investment properties using the BRRRR method!

As long as I continue to work at my current company until March 1st, 2019 when my company pension benefit will be mostly maxed out.1) 401K @ 6% nominal, 2.91% real in year 2035 would be ~ 1 Million nominal, 600K real.2) HSA with same returns as above but at 65 years old would be 25K nominal, 13K real.3) Pension schedule If I work at my current place of employment until March 1st, 2019 tentatively as follows - start withdrawals at age:a) 50 ~ $959.00  b) 55 ~ $1,316.00c) 60 ~  $1,880.00This would be a fixed index annuity, not inflation adjusted.  

How successful have you all been using the driving for dollars method?

We initially felt like flips would be our best move but after doing more research, the BRRRR method seems like a better deal.

Taxes are reasonable, and two significant employers are in the city(Pfizer and Electric Boat).