I am a journalist in the Washington, D.C. area (Alexandria, Virginia to be precise) but my primary interest is to invest in Pittsburgh, PA.

My attorney has actually done precisely what we're talking about, but on a large scale for clients (talking millions at a time).

We have had the pleasure of hiring Precision Underground Services for the last few jobs we have done, one of the best indemnified crews doing this work in Canada.

I work in Java support development (software) in the Birmingham area.My wife and I are just getting into real estate investing and we are seeking our first investment property, a multi-family rental property in Jefferson, Walker, or Blount county Alabama.I'm interesting in finding mentors, private lenders, and general real estate investing contacts in the area, because I know precisely nothing on the subject.

Although it could be seen as lazy the fact is it is a much easier, faster and more precise way of cutting out boxes. 

Manufactured homes are okay as well, with the stipulation of them being 1990 and newer, on their own land and have the ability to be financed in the future (never moved besides original placement).

After some searching I think I found I found a possible deal for a buy and hold property, my analysis is belowFinancing80.00%Purchase Price$80,000.00Down Payment$16,000.0020.00%Total Loan Amount$64,000.00Interest Rate4.50%Loan Term36030Vacancy Rate10%Management Rate8%Principle and Interest$323.07PMI$0.000.00%Total Monthly Payment$323.07$3,876.81IncomeMonthlyAnnualGross Income 950.00 11,400.00ExpensesMonthlyAnnualTaxes$65.25$783.00Insurance$62.50$750.00Water$0.00$0.00Trash$0.00$0.00HOA$0.00$0.00Management Fee$76.00$912.00Vacancy & Collections$95.00$1,140.00Initial Repairs and Rehab$0.00$0.00Monthly Repair Allocation$95.00$1,140.00Lawn Care$0.00$0.00Initial Tenant Placement Fee$0.00$0.00Total Operating Expense$393.75$4,725.00Net Operating Income 556.25 6,675.00Less: Debt Service$323.07$3,876.81Before Tax Cash Flow$233.18$2,798.19Cash on Cash Return17.49%Gross Rental Yield14.25%Cap Rate8.34%I went and saw the property today and it is currently occupied by a tenant until next July paying $950 a month.

Fannie Mae does not specify the precise documentation the lender must obtain to verify that a non–U.S. citizen borrower is legally present in the United States.

I have little experience as I'm new to this, but do take before pics before placement. 

We measure for tile and other surfaces and buy precisely, so if we come up short it's a time to say 'hmmm'.I guess some argument could be made that a contractor might want to steal something smaller, like a bucket of mud or nails or something - but honestly, the guy who did it would have to be really daft to risk future work over a bucket of fasteners.And a lot of this boils down to knowing who you're working with.