It usually reduces your return on investment.Leveraging up will give you the greatest return, even though it's not the best cash flow.

Those are the kind of rentals that attract bad tenants.You can dramatically reduce that number by posting a statement that you will require a credit / criminal background screening on all adults 18 years and older.

That all wouldn't have happened without the letter.. sooooo thanks BP)Heres my story - I was a paramedic for 15 years - very successful career - but cannot do shift work anymore and the stress is getting to me.

Can any of the tax on that unused portion be reduced by the $85,000 basis in the original property?

I think I used the '$35 late rent is like free money' as a coping mechanism for having bad tenants who stressed me out. 

This has been the only stressful part so far lol but once that first experience happens, i know it'll make more sense.

I have properties that I'm selling to buy REIT mutual funds as I'm nearing retirement (don't want to deal with the hassles). Any advice on how to not get killed in taxes as I make this transaction?  Less than $1 mill...

If you're willing to drop the price $100, just do it and find a renter that's ready to rent sooner.In my experience, reducing rent or holding a property longer for someone does not make them better tenants.

I think a lot of investors are too stressed about getting every single penny back in the refinance.

Obviously you can becuase you live there, but understand that that can cause more stress too especially if the tenants know you're the owner AND you're living there.