As an agent, you have access to title records, comps (sales, rental), tax records, marketing programs, etc.Speaking of marketing, as an agent, you are offered discounts on specific marketing resources, web campaigns, etc.Commission, or the ability to reduce the purchase price equal to the comission......Just to name a few.......WAY worth the cost of entry IMHO.

@Ashwin NarasimhanFitchburg does have lower entry prices...

Congrats Ron on your entry into REI!

It is a way for the government to regulate, create a barrier to entry, and keep tabs on the real estate industry.

My only challenge is trying to decide whether or not I should keep the entry way/star well heated.

Househacking is great because as it provides you the opportunity to get into real estate with less cash down(3.5% if you did an FHA).It also provides you "training wheel's" to becoming a landlord as Brandon Turner would say.A lot of NY real estate investors are investing in upstate NY, nearby states such as CT, NJ, PA or doing long-distance investing in states across the United States.Not many NYers are investing in NYC itself because of the higher entry point and a lot of the properties do not provide cash-flow opportunities(however they can provide appreciation...but not many investors like that speculation portion).Remember from a tax perspective that your househack is part rental property part personal residence.The personal residence portion of the house is eligible for exclusion of upto $500,000 of gain if you live there for 2 years.The investment property portion of the house is eligible for like kind exchange upon sale deferring your gain.Also you are able to deduct direct expenses and indirect expenses related to the investment property on your tax return.

The Journal entry for a loan would be as follows:Cash                                             $30,000Loan from IB Singh                                              $30,000As payments are made you would deduct from the $30,000 principle balance along with any interest paid. 

For a mechanical calculating device, or perhaps even a budget/entry-level early vacuum tube computer, you would hard code the relationship between 12, 30, and 360 and force everything to fit into the 12/30/360 paradigm.

So, the cost of entry is tempting, but even when paid for, the HOA is way out of control, removing it from consideration as an investor (in my book).I live in North Scottsdale. 

What material should the entry door and other main exterior doors be?