I was confused about some aspects of the situation.

I took a contract on 2 properties so far.I am not looking to be a "buy and hold investor" as of now because I do not like the management aspect of it.

The  mental aspect of this is crazy harsh.

Knowing how to connect with motivated sellers and how to analyze and optimize your marketing to find deals is crucial to any type of real estate investing. 

With margins tightening like that, thorough analysis of any prospective “deal” has become a lot more crucial than it seemed to be when the 1% rule still held in Stockton.While rents for listed rental properties are pretty easy to guesstimate, my biggest challenge in analyzing new opportunities has always been estimating repair and rehab costs.

Water bills and the lack of support from the City for business people and development is a prime reason to leave Baltimore or get active and start controlling houses and commercial properties in a town that I have been in now for 74 years.I own houses and commercial properties in Baltimore and it has been good to me as well as profitable - but there are times with the negative aspect of this city - the politicians and lack of support - makes me sometimes rethink my Baltimore activity.My son, Ian, just wrote a letter to Congressman Elijah Cummings, in part it said this:You know, the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 is known as one of the largest catastrophes Baltimore has ever faced. 1,500 properties were destroyed.

You have to be a people person and willing to learn every aspect of insurance to succeed.

Investing in real estate is just a general term.....make a plan, zone in on 1-2 different aspects of real estate that you can actually do.

@Don CarbonDon I think the most important aspect is the wood selection when buying the cabinets -- Get Beech or Oak - they are the 2 species of wood you can get that will give you the most hardness for the dollar.Dont get poplar, knotty alder etc -- Maple is ok but will be expensive due to the wood and is not as hard as Beech or Oak.I'd just get them prefinished in a stain from wherever you order them.  

Hi Angela,As a mentor I would agree to help people that can help in two crucial aspects of my business.