Explain.I have nothing against a flat tax.However, "as able" should apply on both sides, even if you consume a ton of tax dollars, if you're capable of paying a percentage of your income in taxes, shouldn't you?

The later approach is infinitely more scale-able and results in cheaper cars for the consumer.

Travelers are opting for a change of scenery in more rural areas or markets with "better scenery" than home. 

.- The size of the loan (pre-2008 it was based on your interest rate, terms/conditions of the loan, etc, generally the worse the loan was for the consumer, the more revenue it generated... now it's just the size of the loan).So if we can give you a bigger loan that can also still be sold to Fannie Mae, why wouldn't we? 

I had 24 hours to close on it since my first-choice loan option flopped at the very last min (and sellers were backing out if I didn't close in 24 hrs), so I had to opt for a 10% hard money with no points that could close the same day, and I am currently refinancing out of it in case I decide not to sell the house.

My job consumes a lot of my time and if I look up the ladder I can tell it's only going to get worse if I continue to advance in my career. 

she dug Your Money or Your Life, and is currently reading 4 hour work week. she's really digging it, and we're already starting to make lifestyle plans for our future. the problem for real estate investing, is that we did the dave ramsey class together, and she's huge on not being in debt. she's struggled to get out of it in the past, and has only her student loans left. assuming the world doesn't end, haha, she'll be out of debt in about 12-16 months, and still in her early 20s. when i try to explain the difference between "good" debt that creates more income than it costs, and "bad" debt that doesn't create income, or appreciation. consumer debt vs business debt. that kind of thing... it doesn't really click tho, and she's still hesitant. she's a w2 earner (i'm a 1099) with decent income, so she could easily land an FHA loan and lock in a house hack within the next year, allowing her to save/invest tons of money and kick the whole thing off even faster. i would love to present this to her in a way that doesn't seem forced, or "i'm right you're wrong do it my way". i want her to really get it on her own, to understand the power that real estate has to change your life. anyone else dealt with this before? 

@Alex Stewart if they won't settle you guys did the right thing and opted for court.

If you are able to bill back utilities to tenants based on their actual usage, then it stand to reason that the tenants will consume less gas, water, etc... than if the LL is footing the bill.

Generally, if you have more units it's going to be a little bit easier to make money so personally I would probably opt for the 2 unit option.