-What amount would you say that a 30yr married person needs in CASH in order to support a spouse and two children in an average middle class town.  

I have to be quite selective with tenant screening and though I have a large pool of prospects, it still remains a challenge to find the right fit for a property such as this with considerations ranging small children (liability concerns only) to pets.  

I was single, no children, 3 dogs and a cat.  

To answer all of your questions:We are so very glad we got into the rental business.I was able to quit an absolutely miserable day job, and now I own a furniture making company, Barndog Mill LLC.

I have a full time job here and two small children, which obviously limits my availability to drive around and study. 

By 2008 the city was getting more dangerous, break ins now, drive by shooting every day, little children being killed while watching cartoons in their homes, and we were now facing 18 vacancies a year.  

The ones who check out every room, measure the rooms, imagine where they're going to put their furniture -- they are looking for a home.

When refinishing the hard wood floors, I swear there is an almost audible voice telling me about the many generations of children who had happily slid on them in years past, despite their mothers chiding them for doing so.  

He can fix almost anything, so never wanted to hire people, which becomes very frustrating when you have several properties and are already busy at full-time jobs and raising children.  

All units are rented (tenants and/or furniture in each), although one unit is being evicted and has until the end of the month to get out.