There are a million other ways to skin the cat, and I would be more than happy to discuss those over a coffee or a beer when you get here to the 757.

Investing in painting equipment really pays off but it takes more time than you think to learn how to apply paint to any surface.

Personally, I have very thick skin so I'd take her attitude for a lot less than $300/month. 

I won’t be missing out on anything.IMO, while these rules sound good on the surface, under scrutiny many exceptions can be sited.I especially have a problem with 4.  

I would beg to differ in that the 50% rule isn't solid but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  

I know people who have purchased properties for appreciation because some "big company was moving to town and the values were going to skyrocket" or based on some news their buddy told them, who subsequently lost everything when the company plans changed.There are many ways to skin a cat.  

That way you could acquire with hard money, put your own skin in the game via the repair costs utilizing your HELOC, and then refi out and get cash to pay off your HELOC and the hard money lender and keep the property as a rental.  

Got to be careful and really clear here - its not an unreasonable ask - but its a totally different request (and will be challenging) to be requesting capital investment from a partner with zero actual monetary "skin in the game"

.#3 how the deal is structured....do you have skin in the deal and have integrity, or are you going to take my money and run if you end up being in the 70%.

This is imperative, so nothing is bubbling underneath the surface.