I'm a freshie here, and fresh to the whole real estate learning journey. my subject pretty much says it all. should I keep as much money as possible that I make, and opt not to contribute to a 401k?

The likelihood is that if the IRS was to investigate they would determine that it was not intended to be held for investment purposes because it was not ever actually rented.

She said did not have the money for it and we left it at that in August of 2017.Well, this morning I get a text from her downstairs neighbor asking me why a security camera was installed on the porch.Granted, I'm still early in the "investigating" process (I requested a pic of the camera from the complaining neighbor, but she was at work) and I have obviously not yet addressed this with the upstairs tenant (whom, I presume, is the one who installed the camera - apparently a wifi model), but I'm trying to decide how I feel about this.First, I did not give permission (lease violation) and the camera was not installed by me or at my direction, so I have no idea where it is mounted or whether it is piercing the envelope of my siding, or caused some other damage or issue. 

Less money to take care of this on the front end than the back end when lawyers are far more expensive considering process serving, investigators, forensic accountants and expert fees!

I explain I would like to have a fresh start. 

A new tenant coming in looks at a space with a FRESH set of eyes whereas the existing tenant usually gets used to seeing old carpet, scuffed up walls with paint, etc. 

Upon further investigation we found out the following:-Owner has been very inconsistent with payments since 2013 at one point he was delinquent $8000. - Owner filed for tax exemption and for that exemption has to make LESS than $40K a year- Owner removed a homeowner from mortgage in 2009-Owner bought the house just under $700K in 1997-Owner recently made a payment lowering his balance but he still owes My question is how can we intervene before the home goes to auction?

I’m in the Fort Worth market myself,I’m just now going thru a similar process myself in the Keller area.I acquired 4 properties with under market rent. 800 for 3-1 properties.Tenants are month to month, so I raised the rent on the first one with required notice and as expaected tenant moved out as I raised rent to 1300.00.Once that tenant moved out, I renovated the home, showed it to a couple other tenants, they fell in love with it and decided to move to the freshly renovated unit immediately at a rent of $1850/ month.A third tenant I have now asked me if I’m going to renovate the second one and when would be ready, accepting the new rent increase and all.

If FHA comes out after the final inspection has been completed the renovation has been closed and they find no evidence of you occupying the home they will investigate further and could and would most likely call the loan immediately. 

I will get you the processor that worked my file too, it should be fresh in her memory.