If you do this repeatedly, you will shorten your length of history, but it's unlikely to dramatically affect your score either way.Originally posted by @Wilson Churchill: You could pay the cards off, then call the banks and request an increase in the credit line.

Then assuming a 30k roof that you save up for 60 months on, you'll get about $60/month in profit.Here are the numbers as I see them at asking:Closing Costs: $14kDown Payment: 30% (standard commercial)Mortgage Rate 5.50%Length of Mortgage in years 30Monthly Mortgage payment $2,503.95 Taxes $1,458.33 Sewer and Water $169.17 Trash $- Heat/Utilities $88.00 HOA $- Cap Ex and Ops $1,333.00 (this is your 10k number plus $500/month to save for the roof)Insurance $250.00 Mgmt Fee $654.93 (include this number even if you intend to self manage because someday you won't want to do it any more)Vacancy $530.50 Total Expenses $6,987.88Total Revenue $6,549.33 Cashflow/month $(438.55)Cash on Cash Return -2.59%I'd need to get this place to $244,700 to meet my ROI number alone.  

Just refinance soon after to get rid of the PMI, as with an FHA loan it stays on the length of the mortgage, not when you hit 20% equity like a conventional mortgage.

It is difficult to invest at arm's length - which is critical - with just a few years worth of Roth IRA contributions.  

Hi Steven, this subject has been discussed at length here on the forum with many forks providing their opinions and valuable feedback.

You are not going to be able to participate in arms' length investing on behalf of the IRA into assets such as real estate with a small account.  

I ask this only because in a couple of weeks I'm going to start submitting some offers and there are some hud homes (very few) that come close to these types of numbers in my target market.Joe, your example is an ARM Length transaction.

These days, I'm seeing anywhere from about 4.25% for conventional NOO up to 6.5% for portfolio loans, depending on the length and amortization periods of the loans.

Aaron's answer is excellent, and I agree 100% with his advice.AND, since I DO have the time to pontificate at length at 4:11 AM, I will add some thoughts:While I have not read the materials mentioned, I would venture that everyone agrees that high interest, long term credit card debt is BAD.

Your insurance and taxes are killing any shot at being a good deal.Mortgage Rate 5.50%Length of Mortgage in years 30Monthly Mortgage payment $1,703.37 Taxes $766.67Sewer and Water $150.00Trash $100.00Heat/Utilities $100.00HOA $-Cap Ex and Ops $150.00Insurance $416.67Mgmt Fee $390.00Vacancy $312.00Total Expenses $4,088.70