The way you offset your income is through the tax strategies available to real estate investors, which include depreciation, car expenses, clothing, cellphone, meals, computer, Internet, home office, travel, etc.

Keep your cell phone in your pocket and take lots of pictures.

My current business cards that I use for networking with other investors have my name and cell phone #.

i am in a fortunate situation of having bought quite a few properties for about 20% of ltv and have heloc's on them through local banks, i plan to continue to buy on a discount and fund the next purchase through equity. i can always cash out refi as well. not sure if using heloc's vs. conventional means alot since they probably still want to see proof of income. the fact is owning a business allows you to write off everyday expenses that depress your taxable income but not your livable income if that makes sens. for instance, if i wasnt a re investor, I would still have a cellphone, truck, tools, etc.....but since I have a company, I can write those things off

So, if you're using hard money, the pre-qual letter will either need to be in your or your company's name, whichever is purchasing.The title company will want to see your corporate creation docs (articles of incorporation or articles of organization) to prove the company exists and your operating agreement to prove you have authority to sign.

I was thinking about getting business cards, but I don't yet have a business name, LLC, website, and only have a cell phone as of right now. 

I discoved an amazing thing......I started to make more money, work less and had time to go to real estate seminars, buy tapes and books and build a savings, Oh...... a supportive wife was a big help........married now this Wednesday will be 47 years.I'll be 75 years old January 16, and as I look back over the many years of Trial and Terror, I don't think I'd want to start over learning to be an investor.What I didn't have and new investors have today makes this business easier; a computer, cell phone, Internet, Bigger Pockets and lots of folks to render help and encouragement.

They drilled holes in the walls, put blasting compound on the front door and had managed to get a robot into the house to deliver a cell phone because his cell service was not good.

You can simply get a cell phone and list it in the 411 by paying a fee online.

Learn how to calculate "MAO" and subtract your minimum profit of $20k or 20% which ever is larger (or more likely your min profit is buried in the MAO calc).