The ownership on accounts, deeds, etc., is typically something like "Such and Such Trust Company Account xxx, for benefit of Your Name".

You have to look at your market and make that determination.

How many people are in that chain determines what cut you'll get buthow much can that be?

Getting around this issue is usually pretty easy, believe or not (although from time to time I'll come across an underwriter determined to prove me wrong :D ).

And how much is the minimum amount of positive cashflow you use as a standard to determine whether it's worth it to you?

It is a legal change of ownership.

These properties are purchased (with the clout of over 100,000 buyers in our group) at substantially under market prices (creating instant equity) in hot baby boomer market areas that are carefully hand picked and determined to still have substantial upside potential over the next several years.

If you're determined to do something with that 10K, consider REITs or home builder stocks.

Positive cash flow is determined by subtracting ALL of the operating expenses and the mortgage from the gross rents.

Depending on their situation and tax advisior will determine whether it can be exempt income, or whether they will be responsible for taxes on that amount.