Take the copy and black out the private expenses to the bars, strip joints, massage parlors, X rated site memberships and other personal expenses that you may not want aired to any auditor, leave the amount of the expenses so that the statement can be audited as to balances, the statement is your receipt of payment and it balances to beginning and ending balances.

Go to a REIA and see who has the shiniest cards, the wealthy guys will have a crappy *** black on white card that barely has his info, the broke guy fresh out of his corporate job will have a pretty, shiny one with an impressive title (that doesn't mean anything).You're question is kinda funny: "what [you] say when they meet new people who may or may not know a thing about real estate."

I will write my "rebuttal" to why I buy in black below :) As food for thought.Originally posted by @Rob Randle:I am trying to way the pro's and con's of renting vs. owning. 

There are many in the Boston area:My own Black Diamond, url in my signatureMassrealestate.net run by @Mike HurneyNEREIA.comBostonAREIA.comMyEasternMassREIA.comHouse Flipping School run by @Mike LaCavaBoston Investor Meetup run by @Justin SilverioThere are plenty of others, these are just some of them2. 

The best one to get out to is the Black Diamond meeting in Worcester (they alternate every month with their Waltham location, April is a Worcester month).  

My previous business has been good and healthy, with it being in the black for several years.This year my corporate financials continue to be in the black, however I haven't taken a paycheck. 

Junior behind you who was in second position gets shut out and had to get the tuna fish sandwich (i.e. the short stick)Hope that makes sense

Black Diamond in Waltham is great..Also look on Meetup.com for "Real Estate Investors of Metro West" and "Boston Real Estate Connection".

Banks need to shift inventory so black list the very people that can help them??

Is it clear in black and white that you can keep it should they fail to go forward?