Make sure everything is in black and white to avoid becoming grey very fast. 5.

I am assuming I should avoid a real estate agent in the transaction?

Its currently worth about 700,000 and a house would run us about 1 - 1.5 million (will likely take out a mortgage)What are your thoughts on keeping money in the NYC apartment vs liquidating it to pay off debt and invest in a home we will actually live in.And if we do sell - how can we avoid the 40K in taxes we will pay?

The only way to avoid the DOS is not to transfer a beneficial interest in their collateral.

Which leads me to believe you don't KNOW that this poster is breaking any laws, you just suspect it or have a gut feeling.There's nothing wrong with opinions (trust me, I have more than most)...we just need to keep them separate from the facts to avoid confusing issues...

"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."

If you want your tenants to use the parking area in a congenial manner, therefore avoiding conflict and drama, then establish clear expectations.

My current plan was to first buy something to live in to avoid the rent and then start saving in order to buy a second property to rent.

However, remember that the only way to hold title and avoid probate is in a trust.

I'm currently in 'reading mode' and absorbing all the knowledge I can right now to try to avoid as many early mistakes as possible!