I have spoken to one RE lawyer who suggested an LLC with a max of two properties in each one.

After at least ten different incidents where the "zestimate" was off, the asking price had either been lowered at least a week or more earlier, simple things like square footage were different from the MLS listing, tax assessments were incorrect, and estimated rent was pretty different from real time evaluations by my RE agent, I have finally decided I may be wasting my time...Does anyone on BP actually use Zillow effectively?

I'm glad you were able to find a cost effective solution.

Lawyers show up to court on behalf of non-paying tenants demanding money from you as well as the dismissal of your money count, or they file a bunch of made up random counterclaims and demand a jury trial.

Do what is cost effective for you and roll the savings into the next deal, unless your planning on living there a long time the investment would be better.

However, when I sent the contract over to my lender, he informed me that there were some changes coming from Fannie in 2014 that will make it more difficult to go with a conventional loan with 5% down on an owner occupant duplex.So my question for the BP community is, what do you know about the changes coming in 2014 and what effects will it have on a young investor like me who wants to start with an owner occupied duplex?

Did you use a particular mailing list that was effective, or was it through networking, or something else?

, which are almost identical to bitcoins, are now accepted at a Subway in Pennsylvania, by lawyers, at art auctions and even by a barber.

Also, try to get the board's meeting minutes to see what the community issues and priorities are and see if they are effective in managing problems.

not legal advice because i'm not a lawyer but good luck in finding the broker whose going to put the legal monies behind an agent for you talking to their contracted client.