@Chinku Chinku the rich get rich by making their money work for them.They borrow at one rate, to invest in something that returns a higher rate - they profit on the difference.Only you can evaluate your risk tolerence though.

In any case, you can easily calculate that.Looking at your objective of retiring in Costa Rica, you have two options:1.

All of this equates to lower returns with turnover costs, being the primary one.  

Leslie, sounds like you approached it more from a management perspective or returning guest.

The tax benefits refer to the tax deductions from mortgage interest and property tax.The returns mainly rely on appreciation, and the cash flow only improves in the last few years, also depending on securing the 5% refinance rate.I've learned a lot from this forum, but as I start to operate on my own, I'm still not completely confident.

Second, real estate investments generate a return in one of two ways - Cash flow and appreciation.If cash-flow is negative, is the appreciation making up for it?

@Julie Doke: Industry specific software speaks to you and you can easily relate it to your day to day process.

Even still, it could be said that I've still lost money due to my time on the tools instead of prospecting as a real estate agent (the cost of lost opportunity).If you can truly do 80%-90% of the work yourself (at acceptable quality levels) and you aren't sacrificing your time where you can get better returns for your efforts, then yes, it can work even up here in Canada.

What kind of questions should I be asking and what kind of a return should I get? 

Investors love seeing a solid return on investment.