I’ve had much better overall returns on our nicer properties: less turnover/tenant damage/management costs, more substantial rent increases, more principle pay down, more appreciation, much less headaches.

Big difference is commercial multifamily is valued based on net operating income, so you have a much more objective measurement to determine the value as compared to single family.

He does own a 4-plex in Oakland and has given me a pretty objective view of the situation, but being a first time buyer, I simply wanted to get some more input.That being said, do you plan to continue investing in rentals in Oakland?

Please call me at (xxx)-xxx-xxxx if you have thoughts about selling.Utilize these principles when sending postcards and printed letters.

I can understand the objections, but honestly the amount of people that mention it in a message outweigh the people who don't. we spent aprox $200 on decorations for each unit and we will have them forever (fake tree). 

If you were paying yourself with your own investment your principle and equity would be reducing.

Since retaking them all would obviously not be a great use of time, I was wondering if it is possible for someone who has never taken any of the classes (Real Estate Practice, Principles, Legal, etc) to still pass the broker exam using an exam prep course like Kaplan?

Look objectively at your risk/reward and your long term goals then make your decision then see it through.

I do most of my investing in Denver and outlying towns that have better price to rent ratios than Boulder, although my Boulder properties have had by far the best overall returns in my portfolio due to appreciation, principle pay down, depreciation tax benefits, and rapidly increasing rents.

@Jason W. screening is important, but you won't necessarily catch these types of tenants with the objective criteria that a screen would provide.You'd want some clause in your contract which allows you to terminate the lease if they're being unreasonable, or at the very least limits your responsibility to make reasonable repairs only.