This is such a basic question, but I don't quite understand the basics of it.If my income increases by 3.5% per year (that's my current raise per year per our contract) and inflation has been between 3-5% per year, how can my standard of living ever legitimately increase?

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Good LuckPaulSouthern CaliforniaInvestor Clubs(be sure to check club website for changes to date/time/venue) Investclub for Women (Orange County) (Iris Veneracion and Bobi Alexander) Day: Third Wednesday of every month Time: 6:30 networking & 7:00 meeting Location: South Coast Cultural Center (9 Truman, Irvine, CA 92620) Cost: $25 per person Website: womeninvestclub.com OC Investors Club (Deborah & Misha) Day: Fourth Friday of each month Time: 11:30am Location: J.T.

Is there any other research I should focus on to lower my risk and insure that this is legitimate?

I would continue to grow your network and talk to other operators who are in markets your looking to invest in to see if they're open to partnering if you find a legitimate deal.

We need to find a restaurant or local venue that is close central to us all! 

We underwrite you personally as the borrower, then we collect borrower documents and entity documents upfront and make sure you have everything done correctly, then we issue you a legitimate pre-approval letter that you can use to lock down your deal with.

Also, curious about my wife's self-employment income i mentioned above that is already legitimate... except it's my IRA not hers that I want to rollover.

The protected classes of the Fair Housing Act are race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.The guidance states that when a housing provider’s seemingly neutral policy or practice has a discriminatory effect, such as restricting access to housing on the basis of criminal history, and has a disparate impact on individuals of a particular race, national origin, or other protected class, the policy or practice is unlawful under the Fair Housing Act if it is not necessary to serve a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest of the housing provider, or if the interest could be served by another practice that has a less discriminatory effect.

The only way to do that is to prove to them you are a legitimate buyer and have the ability and the resources to close.If you need more help please PM me.Peter Vekselman

Out of the 7 reasons the Relator gave for why "I can’t willingly recruit a tenant to sign into that agreement", #6 and #7 may be legitimate reasons.