I debate to pay more on principal on the rentals, as i have always heard re investing is the way to go.... 

I am currently looking for one locally that specializes in RE.

In my opinion, RE investing is all about putting up capital and then doing value add to increase the value then pulling out that capital.

So just about 3 weeks ago I finally decided to resign from my current w-2 and go to school to be a licensed RE agent.

If you attend RE meetings near you, you can ask others for recommendations.

People increased occupancy by either moving in with family or friends so the demand went down but the banks were holding many foreclosed properties empty so the supply also diminished.There is no way of knowing if the next large recession/depression will behave similarly so the safe investor should be in a position to cover extended periods of reduce rents and potentially long periods of vacancy.We have been RE buy n hold investors since the mid- 1970s and have never experienced a significant rent decline in our market but in that time we have seen significant rent declines in other markets. 

Hi there! My name is Annie. I bought my first home at 23 in 2010 in the suburbs of Chicago at the bottom of the market with an FHA for about 99k, with 3% down. I suppose I “house hacked” without realizing because I de...

Basically, if you can re-rent a unit for enough more monthly to cover a mortgage in the amount of the improvement then you should do it. e.g. if you can get $100+/mo in rent... that's worth spending roughly $15k in remodeling costs which will then be covered by the add'l rent.

I like you am just getting into REI and have just been absorbing podcasts/blog posts/books, etc. but have yet to make any purchases myself. 

If you are in your first year maybe not, or change your major to something that you can fall back on if RE investing down the road is not enough for you.