I have family in San Bernardino area and they are active in commercial buildings, everytime I talk to them about the properties they find it makes me shutter at the prices.

But, I did just get my real estate license and plan to use it actively, so if I see any other areas we can expand.

I work full time in a student activities office at a large, public university in the Northeast and it just kills me to see what the university spends its money on.

You get very high (not highest) returns with an extremely small time component that allow you to focus on keeping the rest of your portfolio active and working hard.

I will then distribute the asset which will count as ordinary income this year.The reason I am considering distribution is that I am precluded from personally being involved with rehab ( that would not be a passive activity) and If I get personally involved I can cut the cost of repair significantly.

If anything this being a hedging activity might indicate that if certain sectors of the economy turn around performance may plummet.

When it comes to getting rid of neighborhood drug dealers or unsavory activity that affects your investment, I like Rule #15: Always work as a team.For various (often silly) reasons, we shy way from working with neighboring landlords and property owners.

That will be job #1.You might be able to get a conventional loan, though you will likely have to check with numerous lenders due to the small loan amount.

Maybe a flipper, maybe a landlord, but an active buyer nevetheless.Also look for the lenders on recent transactions.

Not many here are into larger projects, at least the active bunch, but we may have lurkers that do and just have had no one to kick ideas around with......so jump in!