Is this a pipe dream and should we just suck it up and purchas on our personal HELOC?

I spotted a very nice opportunity for a fix and flip or stay in as a Dream Home.

I'm here to learn as much as possible about real estate and investing and hopefully make my dreams of a successful investing business a reality.

To the OP, if you want to get advice from real pros, hang out in the forums, not with the podcasts and blogs that are mostly inexperienced RE cheerleaders trying to sell the dream but skim over the reality IMHO.

He does not teach probate, nor is that a good niche for a beginner IMHO.Lots of dream merchants want to take your money and teach crap.

Does she have a dream of opening a bakery or a boutique but doesn't see how she will ever be able to do so?

That ROI, which you as the investor, is willing to earn, given your own needs goals, dreams, desires and time horizon.  

The myth that we live in too expensive of an area to invests destroys the dreams of many here.

Hi Everyone,I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and it has always been my dream to invest in real estate here.

In other words, dreaming up expenses to save on taxes will hurt your ability to qualify.I know self employed folks have not taken obvious or entitled expenses, were willing to pay more just to have stronger income for borrowing, no law against paying more, but going too far, claiming more than you made will be mortgage fraud, applying for a loan.