Real estate is one of the great 'meritocracies'.One does not succeed based on looks, height, weight, religion, gender, ethnic origin or political correctness.Success comes from much hard work, a lot of learning, more hard work, some brains, and probably a little bit of luck as well.

Although urban legend has it that has been a rash of these I think a search will find that there has only been ONE, and when political heat got turned up the HOA reversed themselves and deeded it back to the elderly lady in exchange for the overdue dues and some nominal late charges.I got into a discussion on this or another board a few months ago with some folks who told me about all of them because they had "heard all about it on a radio program", that was when I did the search.

How successful can you be if you aren't willing to shell out a few hundred dollars for one of your primary marketing tools?

I've been using the Property Analysis Tool and removed all of my property expenses - taxes, mortgage, insurance, water, advertising, and some other small expenses directly from the rental income profits.

I would err on the side of being aggressive in this case.Never heard of this book, but from looking at the TOC online, it seems like a great tool to have.

And, I will note, a legal base is fully adequate for a developing country and stable political system.I.e. it is possible to earn at the market of real estate and to get large incomes.

I agree about your take on Nouveau Riche, but was being polite as to avoid the flame war I got into earlier this year when I suggested something similar to what you said.

but then its times 10 and 3 more dont fit right so you throw em away and buy new ones, another 200 for new hardware for those doors, and oops they all still need to be 1/8th inch less wide, and guess what you dont own that tool - another $200...stuff like that...You make one thing look brand new, everything else in the room now looks like crap.

A bit of an update.I am in the middle of a deal for 29 individual properties, 30 total units.As part of the due diligence I am using different tools to analyze the details.

Aside from tenants failing to pay rent and tearing up the place, some are unreasonable about their expectations.There are a lot, and I mean A LOT of landlords that attempt to weasel and impose their personal beliefs (religious, political, morals) on tenants through a variety of means.