Many people discount it's usefulness, because they can raise the money on their own, but as it becomes more main stream, I feel that way of thinking will have been a mistake. 

There are basically 2 ways.One is to buy the note at a fair price and you, as the note buyer, becomes the new lender and receives the income stream (mortgage payments) from the borrower.The other way is to buy the note at a discount (for non performing notes), foreclose on the property and now you become not the lender anymore but the owner of the property.

My waistline is up 6% from a year earlier, that must mean that I am hot, too.From a broker's perspective, we are starting to see some trends spill over into our area (Olympia), such as listing brokers (typically from Pierce and King) demanding that buyers waive their home inspection.

Sure you are saving X amount for certain expenses but if you get hit with 3-4 big replacements in a year and you are already not making any excess cash-flow you are going to be paying out of your other income streams.

As far as my goals I'm looking to do both flips (continue to build immediate working capital) and also build a portfolio of rentals for a more passive cash flow income stream as well.

What theyvwill look at is the property's income stream and if you've got enough experience to manage the property yourself going After closing. 

I live in quebec city but my market does not make much sense if I want to build another income stream from RE.

Or a stream of different friends of an owner who uses the apartment as a hotel room for guests.Co-ops generally do not approve of investment buyers.

The oil tank appears to have been decommissioned at some point since the home has been converted to gas but there was obviously a spill on the concrete floor that lingered around for 5-6 years.  

My understanding is that I can invest through an agent, and get a safe, trouble-free income stream (with the understanding that this would be taxed as ordinary income).I'm afraid of making a ghastly mistake here.