I will be going w/ the 6% 401K contribution...that way I free up some $$ each month for RE and get the company match.Thanks for the advice and pointing out the double taxation on the 401K payback...that didn't even occur to me when I took the loan :-( #rookiemistake

I had a similar situation where I rent (yes, I'm a property owner that rents), and it never occurred to me to ask the landlord to pay the electric bill.

If they were selling drugs out of the property and as a result the break in occurred they would be responsible.

This is usually short term and therefore, say over a period of 6 months, I should have covered my (annual) cost and possibly even made some money in the end while also having a half year gone by to see what the market has done, with new developments (liitterally) having surfaced.One other thing that just now occured to me: what about investing that money into an empty lot.

Here's why:With a Collateralized loan, the risk control is a negative control...meaning it only comes into play when a negative thing happens...after it happens.My system is proactive...meaning my system prevents the problem (non-payment) from occurring in the first place.  

Josue Vargas Thank you so much for the explanation on why the foundation issues occur!

I wanted to rent out the unit and then a flood occurred.  

For SoCal that's the million dollar question:  When will the next crash occur?  

When people hit financial hardship its because something unexpected occurs and they don't have a good plan to address the surprises in life.  

If one or both gets all combative and argumentative with you, then remind them of damages that have occurred at the property since their occupancy (so security deposit is probably gone) and it looks like since cooler heads can't prevail, you are just giving notice to terminate the rental agreement due to Breach on the part of the Tenant and serve both of them with a Notice to vacate (if rent is unpaid) or just the 30 day notice to terminate the lease (if one or both have stated verbal he/she does NOT intend to pay full rent at next rental due date).