Before you know it, a year and thousands of dollars have gone down the hole and suddenly, they just can't do it.

The NOI leads to the cash-on-cash which become deposits to your account - - cap rates are like golf handicaps -- topic for discussion at the 19th hole (aka club house).Appreciation is totally uncontrollable, so I ignore it. 

I had a little bit of money burning a hole in my pocket, but didn't want to get into a bad deal. 

People need to look deeper than this tired left vs right, everyone falls into a perfect pigeon hole crap, which accomplishes nothing but to continue the divides between groups-AND NOW THE GROWING # OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING PROMOTING DIVIDES, whether true or totally false!)

There were holes and openings everywhere!

However, I don't want to fall into to pit holes that are out there.

I found Real Estate Riches by Dolf de Rolf an easy to understand and also Real Estate Loop Holes by Diane Kennedy, these are both in the Rich Dad Poor Dad series mentioned by Nick.  

There been a lot of holes in my education so where do I start?

If I find a tenant thru a referral, I send a Thank You Card and a small monetary gift! 

I can understand many reasons why people may want to limit or eliminate pets - smells, afraid of dogs, reptiles, whatever - but I have bought plenty of rentals and the majority of damage in these properties are done by wayward people - holes in drywall/doors, broken kitchen cabinet doors, filthy appliances, etc.