There's a low amount of inventory and the areas interest rates are remaining steady at around 4.5% for a qualified borrowers.

The catch is, I dont want to put the title of the property in my c-corp's name - I want it to remain under my personal name.Can I use the c-corp to do all the property management (i.e. it will be done by me as an employee of said corp), and if a tenant sues they would sue the c-corp?

The land, unlike a car, remains stationary.Debts on real estate fall into two main categories: voluntary (meaning you agreed to the debt and a lien is recorded against the property to secure the obligation) and involuntary (taxes and judgment liens are most common).Unlike a car, when you borrow on your house you sign an IOU (the "Note") and depending on local state law, either a Mortgage or Deed of Trust (Trust Deed) that is a voluntary lien and recorded, referencing your property.Typically, you receive the actual recorded title document, "Grant Deed" or "Warranty Deed" or similar document, without any reference to any liens.Beyond this, real estate title is a big, complicated area of law.

An amount equal to $___________ of each payment for each month in which rent was paid, will be credited to the Tenant/Buyer and applied to the purchase price of the property in the event that the Tenant/Buyer exercises its option hereunder and legal title transfers.Exclusive occupancy and possession of the property transfer to the Tenant/Buyer on the date under "2" above and remain with the buyer during the term of this agreement and any extensions thereof, unless Tenant/Buyer defaults on any payment required by this contract.

When the market is being driven by short term investors looking for big appreciation gains in a short time period, then the market can become artificially inflated, with the short term investors just selling to other short term investors in a nasty repeating cycle that drives up the price of real estate.

Often, I wish I could convert the entire PM into a thread for the benefit of all (perhaps a future programming function for @Joshua Dorkin )With that said, I really encourage all members, both new to BP, new to investing, I seasoned vets to ask their questions in the forums so not only one person can answer, but many providing better feedback with many points of views on questions where they consist of opinions and experience rather than simple facts.Clearly there are cases where the question is much more of a personal and private issue and not as appropriate fir public forum view, therefore, these types of questions should remain in a private PM ore email.I still encourage those to PM me, but I do suggest to all that they use the forums as often as possible as you will certainly get much more out if it!

If you are a long term investor (10 years or more), do you just expect over time, that at the least inflation will drive the cost of the home higher?

That will remain your responsibility...

I will say that in most instances it makes more sense (unless you really want to get rid of one tenant or the remaining tenant absolutely refuses to extend the lease with vacating tenant's name still on it) to simply extend the lease, because you have two (or more) people to go after which increases your chances of recovering your money.  

And it'll be easier to jump from managing 1 side of a duplex to managing 1 4plex as opposed to (2) 4plexes.As a general question, do you know if banks still let you do a loan for 80% and then a 2nd lien home equity loan for the remaining 20% that you're down payment doesn't cover?