I live in and like Baltimore City for rentals if you know how to manage them, basic 3 bd, 1 bth townhouse you can be all in for 85k-95k rehabbed, all new mechanicals, get 1300-1400 a month, taxes are 1000-1800 a year on average, good cash flow.

Elijah.I agree with Nathan but I would also consider which of his two examples is in more desireable location.Don's comment is very good too but to take this one step further I would emphasis that your deal would have to be significantly below market in order for you to make money and for investor to buy at discount.

Originally posted by Camilla Sauder:My parents are interested in lending me money for real estate investing. ...Everybody else is talking the mechanics of borrowing from your parents.

This would affect mechanics liens, junior mortgages, and some HOAs.

All that being said, the key highlight of this book for me was the equal emphasis on the pitfalls of each financing method mentioned.

@Anthony Venturini, even if you love cars and worked on your own every weekend, it is different than opening a mechanic's shop. 

Auto-mechanics, Govt workers, road crews, electric utility linesmen, firemen, police, etc: all are commendable people! 

Mechanical stuff breaks if no proper maintenance is provided.  

You are still responsible for all mechanical systems within your unit - plumbing, electrical, HVAC, so no condo benefit there.Condos are in many cases are on the beach, which in my opinion attracts the party crowd.

Whether it is a computer, a person, or a monkey with a marker, the act, not the mechanism, is what matters in determining enforcement.