Now we're looking at a great little triplex but I'm hesitant because it sort of seems like taking a step back, in terms of units/roof that is.

If it will though because time is an issue, you could always offer your current tenants a financial incentive of some sort to move out early.

or maybe just expected on a larger deal?

Chris, Absolutely check with local/community banks, as they are often able to provide things the larger banks cannot.

Many investments made by an IRA are tax free, but any sort of active business is not.

So when I see the question, what is a good book to read on notes, I sort of always want to say what type of notes, on what type of collateral, dealing with what type of borrower or origination source?

The are so many variables that you can sort by.

Did you have any sort of written agreement with them?

When I'm trying to determine if one area can be used as a comp for another subdivision, I take a larger sample (read go back further in time) and see how the prices compare for each area.

The SFHs there are expensive, usually 2500+.Where I do most of my property searching (blue collar area to the south of Dallas), $1300 is just above the threshold into the nicer/larger properties.