I’m a newbie in the RE investing game and have struck up a partnership with a talented investor in my area.

They have little skin in the game and usually have employment and other difficulties.

One months rent is a drop in the bucket compared to potential damage, problem renters usually just skip last months rent anyways (depleting that fund) and when the tenant has no real skin the game, they tend to not care much about damage.

This is my plan also but I am realistic enough to know that the rules of the game can change and that you need to be prepared for the changes.  

Numerous factors that cause speculation on appreciation to be a very risky game.

I'm a licensed agent/buillder who's life game plan is to continue acquiring rental properties and hope to someday build new construction homes.

If he has an agent it changes the game entirely.

We started out playing Robert Kiyosaki's Cash Flow game with a group of like-minded wannabe investors.  

He's literally playing games, watching movies, and complaining about boredom.

Paul - I'm in Raleigh and am also new to the RE game.