We do however allow the tenants to use the water to maintain the landscaping, their flower beds and vegetable gardens.Here are actual numbers of usage by 100 Cu Ft per read date for this past year.1/8/16 - 54 cu ft11/5/15 - 49 cu ft9/7/15 - 60 cu ft7/6/15 - 55 cu ft5/6/15 - 49 cu ft3/3/15 - 53 cu ftSo, in our experience it is quite manageable for us to pay for the water.

You've got the problem of having to maintain your payments, if you have to foreclose on the buyer.  

The burden will then be on you to prove that the rentals are maintained with "investment intent" - not fun. 

I would like to know what type of credit cards(Visa/MasterCard) and banks i should be looking at for opening a new card that would help report to all 3 as well as assist me in maintaining good credit.

Many of these "investors" are really looking to just park their cash and maintain purchasing power instead of investing on a rational self-maximization basis.  

I've been simply maintaining the properties for awhile, and at times hating being a landlord, because I haven't been treating it as a business.

My policy is to ensure that the property is pest free before the tenant occupied and then they are responsible for maintaining it pest free.

Your brother will maintain your cost basis in the gifted shares, and you will have to file a gift tax return which will reduce your tax free estate upon death. 2.

Any liquidity you maintain in the plan will suffice.  

Now, I will move per property financials to Buildium and maintain overall business expenses, with a mere summary of rental incomes and expenses on QB.