By working with your tenants and keeping the communication open about this issue, you can take proactive actions to prevent the pipes bursting.

You are after a door handle that is always in the locked position or rigid.  

(loan against my dot/note)$50,000 1st position deed of trust/note (only lien on title)Secured by $450,000+ newly remodeled property with clean titleNo interest rate, past balloon date so can be called due at any time (was placed as interest in home)Property is titled to an LLC so homestead exemption wouldn't apply in event needed to forecloseLooking for a short-term loan using the note and deed of trust as collateral. 

Remember that the net positive cash flow is good, but the asset value appreciation is where the real wealth-building opportunity lies. 

Proximity and identification of higher worth asset pockets becomes difficult/volatile to predict.Political environment and societal expectations that can be borderline ideological with regards to the aboveIf the crime does not get under control (see the above thoughts on education, gini, poverty, etc) this will weigh on perceptions and asset values for years to comeOn the upside:Indy is positioned well as a logistics hub which fueled growth, and it has a reasonably diversified economy.There is access to high quality higher education in the area.I will not invest in Indy although I did look at it awhile back.

For those of you who have already started your investing journey, any advice you have for someone in my position?

I’m not sure what the best course of action is.

What would be my safest course of action regarding a rental agreement?

Very action oriented and I have heard a lot of good feedback about the meetup. 

Ive also chosen at times not to purchase it, but Im also in a financial position to be able to take care of the costs involved with fixing a title problem.