Step 4: Get a surface level understanding of the various niches of REI.

I will say that long term you will want to incorporate asset protection, and you do not want to use Legal Zoom to do so.Lastly, on the surface I don't see any reason that you would tax your LLC as an S-Corp.

Both the filter and the surface of the pool are approaching end of life. 

You scratched the surface for ways to find cheap properties for purchase in Hagerstown.

Since you will likely only be lent a percentage of the purchase, you will need skin in the game.

So in my mind don't chase the high yield unless you have really thick skin and want to really micro manage your portfolio and have the time and energy to do it.

You will still need skin in the game.

They came into effect 6 or 7 years ago and basically state any contractor that is disturbing any painted surfaces of a home built before 1978 must either prove the paint is lead free (by having the paint tested) or must take preventative measures for mitigating the spread of lead based paint dust.

I use oil-based primers and paints on a lot of problem surfaces much more frequently than people working in newer construction.

Its highly unlikely for a lender to loan with the borrower not to have any skin in the game.