Again, don't mean to knitpick but if there is one thing about income in real estate (or most self employed job) is that it's not stable.

It is a ploy, a method, a structure employed to circumvent the intent of the law.Some are saying going with you wife, husband probably including the kids.

One glaring omission to this application is the required statement that every application should have - the statement authorizing the landlord to contact employers and past landlords and for those organizations to release information to you.

A "normal" 19-year old would be thinking that the future is way off, and that there's no reason to start getting his act together now.Keep this attitude and effort going, and you'll soon be the employer of the "normal" guys.Let's hear it for ABNORMAL. 8)

Now being a barber, your considered "self employed" meanin u have to pay your own taxes by hiring a accounting.

I have only heard of that happening recently because the buyer bought a new car or was late on some credit card payments just prior to closing.I have had quite a few people come into my open houses hoping to qualify but they have car payments, credit card debit and they are self-employed so can't support the payments with their declared income.

If you are married, your spouse might be able to become a real estate professional if self employed in the real estate industry or looking to change careers/start working in the real estate industry.The easier route to take would be to invest in another property that produces net taxable income (property 2) and use tax losses from property 1 to offset property 2 taxable income to zero. 

And for me depreciation does come into play as I am self employed and in the bizz So NOL and depreciation are considerations.

How much leverage do you figure success real estate investors (as defined in my original post) employ -- more than the typical 5:1 or 4:1 that can be found in ordinary mortgages?

So, if you decide to go to college, then maybe get a business degree.In general, college prepares you to be employable not to become an investor.