The key in real estate is really knowing people because it is a people business and building a team can take you places (and make your life a lot less stressful).

I'm just trying to see where I should be financialy speaking before I move into that stage of my life.

I need to make some financial changes in my life in order to do so.

The houses are about a year apart in age, and they had a 12 year life guarantee.

Same style house on same street sold for $120,000 3 month ago.

Wow, I feel like I need to get a life.

I think man what they could do with that lifestyle if they would only use RE and leverage as the vehicle.

I am a token example of why you should think hard about what you want to do with life before settling for a "career path" just because it is what is expected of you :D .

Others just let me know when they're ready to make a move, and I research what's available that meets their requirements.I still end up having to comb through a lot of listings manually, of course, but knowing how to work the database of a large city's MLS makes my life a lot easier.Good luck!

Of course the agent is for it, for the same reason the insurance agent says whole life insurance is so good.Look at it this way, if the policy costs $300/year, ON AVERAGE the costs to the homeowner has to be less than $300/year.