If you are investing in one or two unit properties, simply use the 50% assumption for your OE and you should be more than safe on your offers.

A lot of drug activity, gangs, prostitutes, drive by shootings,murders, daily gunfire, etc. etc.Another forum member had a 50% rule that applied to war zones.Enter at your own risk, you have a 50% chance to come out alive.

You'll also need to know what work is needed.Rents can be found by driving the area and looking for for-rent signs.

Joe,I am sure you already read it, but the answer to your question in this thread was made in this thread (for those who would like to read it)http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/31818-llc-s-vs-umbrella-policyAlso, as Greg stated, the LLC is an "inside liability protection" meaning that you personally are protected from the entity, but the entity is not protected from you.In other words, if you were to drive drunk and kill someone, they (their family) could sue both you and all your holdings, including your assets held inside your entities, but if your tenant falls and sues, they can only sue the entity (unless you were found to be negligent)

One of the builders actually was considered an environmentally safe builder....caveat emptor--let the buyerbeware!!

Thanks for your help, how safe or protected are Roth IRA accounts from creditors ?

If the major "city" has a bad neighborhood, I look for a smaller satellite city within an hour's drive or two.

Drive them, get a feel for them etc.

My grandmother always say "better safe than sorry" So I am disecting every single approach to coming into REI

How about driving the surrounding area in a reasonable radius and look for "for rent" signs as well as houses that look like they are under going rehab (ask the crew how to get in touch with the owner.)