Continue to read as many blogs, books and articles as you can in order to educate yourself on the topic and to reach out to those that are doing what you want to do!

Here is a 3 minute clip of Gary Vee explaining why there is no need to continue Direct Mail (https://youtu.be/ZsK41_MnnIM).

A foundational model based on a strong market (jobs/population exceeding averages and projected to continue), conservative deal assumptions / modeling (rents, occupancy) and an experienced team should weather downturns. 

Continue to do great things!

@Brett Hearn  I would say keep doing as many deals as possible using your money and seller financing to continue to build.

@Rachael Britton You do not need a realtor to submit an offer for a property, but if you are dealing with the Seller's Agent directly, understand that unless/until their status changes to Transaction Broker, they will continue to be the Seller's Agent, meaning they are only working in the Seller's best interest and owe you basically nothing besides fair and honest treatment.

As downtown LA continues to build expensive luxury apartments it will push out those how cant afford it into the surrounding areas such as Boyle Heights, South Central LA, and Inglewood.

I would cover the other portion and not require him to continue paying any rent after December 31. 

For my broker @Rick Santasiere who reached out during my plea for a great REI friendly agent (that eventually went on to change my life), my buddies @Jacob Reilly and @Kit Crowne who continue to put on a great Free & informational monthly BP Meetup in Manchester, and the tons and tons of folks who hang out here on a daily basis helping folks out. 

I am more concerned with putting myself in a position to continue to expand my portfolio.