So this is a very healthy development, we needed that.

.#8-Avoid any Private Money Lender who balks at being vetted, investigated or who wants you to simply accept their word with a handshake, a smile, a reassuring phone call or a calming email.

"MikeOH needs sensitivity training" - Now that brought a smile to my face!!!!!!!!!

@Michael Smith, For your" buy and hold " strategy I feel you need to look at the future "Marketability" of the holdings- Superior location, healthy sq.footage, etc. should get you over any resistance to frame Your Kids may want to " cash-out" and have no interestin Real Estate. .

Always apply " healthy Skepticism" on the numbers and what youare being told.

What would be a healthy portion of that to dedicate to the debt service? 

My strategy is slow and steady, but all properties have very healthy cash flows with minimal down.

As to financing, bringing in a partner who is less financially healthy is a liability to the better side.

His health is failing him.

Most notably with the city filing for bankruptcy several years ago.Obviously, this gives most investors pause.BUT THEN AGAIN -- Stockton has definitely turned itself around recently:Two Years After Bankruptcy, Stockton Ranked Top 20 Fiscally Healthy Cities For It's SizeYet still, Stockton has a long way to go to shake it's bad reputation, even if it's miles away from the really bad one it had in the past.