(They have the deferred maintenance you'd expect after a fixed income senior lived in them for several years, plus smokers, pets)So how do I turn 5 straggling houses into a proper real estate portfolio and well-managed rental business? 

I would recommend Mike right now, as he is battling liver cancer and could use any new business possible to help him out with his expenses.  

Not sure if its a regulation issue or what it is, but I've only been able to even entertain the idea of doing business with HMLs on the MN side of the border. 

So if you stop listing with them and do not turn that off, you'll get billed another year and they won't refund you.Use that for what you will, but I feel it's a reflection on their business ethics. 

Hi Luke, an education expense is a deductible business expense only if you get the education while your working in a business with a profit motive. 

You own the LLC, and just like any other business and the income/loss of that business will factored into your debt to income. 

The original plan was to be 100% commission, based on metrics like net profit after the flip is sold, size ($) of the remodel, finishing on-time and under-budget, etc.Meeting our average profit per flip and doing 24 / year, our PM has the potential to make around $72,000 / year.

Buying a multifamily property is essentially buying a business—income minus expenses.

The business plan is clear and well thought out and fits your criteria6.

The plan for each house that we work on together is that at the end of each project, we split the money three ways. 1/3 toward the designer/real estate professional, 1/3 toward the private money lender, and 1/3 for myself.