Best advice here is going to be to find out if there is any free or reduced priced legal aid offered to tenants for landlord/tenant disputes.

--Question--To reduce my housing costs to $0 or cashflow positive I have come up with two potential scenarios....Scenario 1:Move into a two bedroom apartment in Manhattan and rent the extra bedroom to break even on my monthly living costs. 

I spoke with one, but they charge 1 months rent as "finders fee" that reduces my monthly cash flow lower than I want to go.

IMHO, it's much better to share the profit and reduce your risk than to go it alone and lose money you can't afford to lose.

Try to get creative so you don't have to risk it all and you also get to learn the business while you earn.

Does anyone have a guide for self employed people or small businesses that explains the ins and outs to taxes so you can reduce tax liability, but also get access to loans from banks?

It is your money and therefor must earn a return otherwise it is not earning it's keep.

Another thing you hear on the Podcast is investors coming in and having a positive impact on the neighborhood and working with the police and the community to reduce crime and make it safer.

If you are earning a 20% preferred return only and it is only going to be out 3 months, you have to ask if $2500 is worth putting your $50K at risk.

I reduced his monthly rent by $10 to compensate for the electricity he pays for the well.