@Kiefer CheneyTo do well in real estate, learn well, set clear aims, gather a team, check out deals, pick a main area, go for it, keep on track, and learn from slip-ups.

Hi Eric, I'm an investor in Birmingham (as well as Atlanta and Indianapolis), and I grew up in Birmingham, though I don't live there now.

This seems like a costly fix, as well as a rental safety concern- The basement leaks, the basement is below ground and built into a hill, and there is always stagnant water in certain spots of the basement floor regardless of amount of rain, which only makes it worse.

We totally get the premise behind the Brrr method but at the same time, if you can utilize the same cash principle to buy a bigger, better rental house that will appreciate well over time due to location, wouldn't it also make sense to consider using the cash house equity for this bigger location house to be refinanced later at a lower rate and take the equity out of the better location house then and use the equity later?  

Well well well.....Is there not anything in this God 'forsakin' land that is not a scam?

I would be interested in hearing about any experiences as well.

You can post on Zillow yourself and you will have to show it or you can hire a realtor and they will show the property for you as well as do further marketing.

Hopefully, this first investment will launch our journey in real estate.Here are some criteria we have in mind:Not in downtown SacramentoClass C+ or B location, since we will be living in one unit (we just want a safe location)Units with shared walls, not ceilingsSeparately meteredFairly renovated or well-maintained (not a fixer-upper, but if one unit is renovated and the others need some work, we would love the experience of fixing and renovating)Can you think of any other factors we should consider?

There are some expenses (mostly noncash items) that can be added back to your income - depreciation is the most common/well-known.If you have strong revenue and are reporting a lot of expenses to reduce your taxable income, a bank statement loan may be a good option for you.

These can do quite well in the Denver area if well furnished and marketed appropriately.