The net effect is the same.

I do not take any risky financial decision if it will effect my family's home, but it is an individual preference.

I was thinking along the lines of like a lawyer on retainer kind of deal but not sure if that is feasable.

What's your most effective retention tactic?

I want to check where my head is at after owning 6 properties and putting over 100 offers in over the past year.1,100 sq ft 3/1 house in a nice neighborhood built in 1960Purchase price: $42,000Borrow $35,000 @ 5.5% 15y$3,000 for clean up and repairs$10,000 cash investmentProformaRent $900 a month = $10,800 a yearMortgage $286 a month = $3,432 a yearTaxes $100 a month =$1,200 a yearInsurance $100 a month = $1,200 a yearI know there is unexpected vacancy costs, maintenance costs, lawyer costs etc...

That may not be the most cost effective and cash flow efficient mindset, but that's where I'm comfortable with starting for now.

If your insurance coverage is high enough, lawyers won't bother going after personal assets because it tends to draw things out.

We have been speaking about getting an apartment together to save on money anyways.One of the drawbacks I can see is that he is in effect signing a 24 month lease.

My suggestion would be to ask your lawyer.

There are lots of very simple and effective way to market that you buy houses without spending a lot of money from signs in the yard, bandit signs around the neighborhood, negotiating with a local business that has a blank wall facing a major street (think gas station on a corner) to hang a banner on the side.