Then again, if you’re talking about a mortgage on your personal residence, and you live in a state with an unlimited homestead exemption for creditor attachment like Texas or Florida, there’s an asset protection consideration as well.   

A well written management contract should clearly spell out what is expected of both the PMC and the owner, to PROTECT both and avoid misunderstandings.

While state specific leases are simple and can work, spending the extra investment and having a real estate attorney help create one for you will likely create more value/protections and save you money in the long run

The networking and local market insights are invaluable.For retirement planning, focus on building steady cash flow and consider setting aside a healthy maintenance fund (I usually recommend 6 months of expenses) to protect against any surprises.If you're looking to expand your portfolio, Columbus is a great market where we still see positive cash flowing deals with lots of appreciation potential.

If it’s in an LLCs name it s protected if maintained correctly.  

There is absolutely a way to have eyes, ears and boots on the ground for finding and rehabbing properties.

Those pictures protected us when the guest contested the charges.

How can I best protect the seller as well as myself?

MFDUs in high-demand areas like Asheville might be limited, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for smaller duplexes or triplexes that align with your budget.If neither works, continuing to rent while buying a pure investment property in a more affordable nearby market could make sense.

It could provide the belief that an unpermitted unit built next month will get protected.