I own them because they pay me the greenbacks.Now, IMHO, you are better served by buying a good investment (one that has a nice gain built in at the closing, and earns above average yields) to get the passive income flowing in while your young family is, well, still young.

Just like airplanes up until last year there was all sorts of huge tax benefits for buying airplanes.. you got section 179 bonus depreciation.. there is a reason small to mid size corps have them and of course big corps.. as they pay for them selves or nearly so.

The caregiver was not family and the old man did not want to disinherit his biological heirs  so he provided the home at a modest price but he made the estate the beneficiary of a modest  private money mortgage to provide a monthly remainder for his own adult children who already owned other residences in the same community.All parties were served by this arrangement until the nurse's own son developed leukemia brought exorbitant demands for both money and time causing.  

Glad you are eager to learn all about that process it will probably serve you for many years to know how to conduct a proper due diligence on any property.

I want to jump into mid-sized apartment complex investing.

I say it's what it would fetch on the market, but there really aren't many comps except on the other end of my block where someone demo'ed a house (anticipating later construction) on a same-sized double lot (102x134) but their cross street is a quiet street, and mine is busy.

Our Team serves the greater Houston TX area.  

I've used on a rental and it serves it's purpose.

For specifics go to that county's sheriff website, call or stop by the office for rules and how to participate.To put an offer in on a short-sale you will need a r.e. agent that's well versed in the process to best serve you.

Originally posted by @Mark Cruse:@Steve Babiak, you are a viable .... that I just wasted keystroke on.............There are many on this forum that have served as lenders in some way.