Additional costs such as closing costs (investment property and home equity loan, vacancy in the beginning, repairs)My main question is: Is a home equity loan a reasonable way to generate money for your first deal? 

He agreed but since he was busy on the job we didn't really have time to discuss it further.So of course, one option would be for me to just be his private money guy and structure it as a debt deal, but I'd really rather get a little more skin in the game and partner with him. 

Honestly it's mainly just the truth not a negotiating tactic.

So the only question is, does the Market Rent for that location and Type of Unit cover the HOA, plus Debt Service, plus whatever other Expenses need to be paid..Because if it doesn't, the Landlord is in for a world of hurt!.

What college can guarantee is years and years of student debt.

@TIM HUGHES in nearly every case it is best to pay down debt first. 

I will use real estate investing as a vehicle to free me from my "9-5 job" in order to spend with my family and live a purposeful life.I am mainly interested in buy-and-holds, but I'll keep my mind open for now as I am just getting started.My fiancé and I may very likely be moving to Germany within the next 1-2 years.

I believe that is mainly to keep stains from potentially seeping into the porous material that granite is. 

I am wondering if there is an easy way in Cook County to find the amount of legal units in a multifamily property without pulling a zoning certificate.My situation:I have a property that is being marketed as a 5 unit, 3 units main & 2 units coach house.

My main concern was having him on notice that something has changed from the norm and I really just feel like being in someone else's space "uninvited" is invading .