With her focused on the almost limitless upside of REI, I'm positive that we'll get a couple of deals knocked out this year. 

I appreciate the comments, but please, positive comments.Thanks Bud

You're still going to find a wide variety of tenants there, more low income than not, but the area is well positioned for appreciation over the next 5 years.

You have to spend $$ to maintain your license and you spent time, $, and effort to earn your license.

You do realize, that any and all contributions you make out of your own cash towards the mortgage, in the interest of netting higher positive (less negative) cash flow, is just paying all that negative cash flow upfront.You need someone else to contribute towards it...like the tenant will be when you move out. 

It looks like this:ARV x 70% = All-in Costs Target - Rehab Costs - Holding Costs - Closing Costs =Maximum Allowable Offer or Purchase price If you can follow this formula you should always be able to get all or most of your cash back.Now to make sure you have positive cash flow you still need to be as close to the 1% rule as possible.  

As long as you have positive cash flow there is very little risk with leverage.

I think the Midwest is in a better position unless you already have some rentals in Dallas and want to keep them concentrated.

They advise us to sell on experience (driven by AirBnb's focus) and that will help us maintain a higher rate. 

We are not the best lender for every investor (although the more traditional types of funding we extend can and do work for most deals) Interestingly it does not seem to matter how many success stories we publish, case studies we produce, documented deals we list,  legitimate positive reviews we receive - there are those who instantly believe anything negative they read online and dismiss all of the positive.