I think that it is the biggest thing to help allow for future growth of my portfolio.

I have found that Realtor Associations are great at writing sales contracts but allow for way too many gaps in their leasing documents.    

You may also want to consider an IRA LLC or a Solo 401k.Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k Similarities Both were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions andBoth are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m).The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (IRA LLC) must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2016; the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

I have a decent W2 which in conjunction with my "house hacking" situation allows me to aspire to grow in the real state business. 

I'm being relocated out of state and I was going to rent out my primary, but found out my housing allowance will be voided if I do, so essentially I have to keep it empty if I want to get it...and I definitely want to get it as it will easily pay for the place and my new place.But here's my situation, I'd like to donate the use of the property to my church to use as a mission house.

I'm good in sales, but the companies I work for just don't allow for much of a payout.

IN   WA OR CA NV and I THINK AZ  there is no deficiency judgment allowed on a purchase money first loan for owner occ.. so in those states its business as usualI think the more pressing issue is values have come back up and less people are underwater than were before.I understand Texas can be a mother when it comes to chasing deficiancies and something that most folks don't know or understand.

I am looking to cashout some of our equity for other purchases, but the big guys require LTVs that wont allow for the amount of equity i am seeking.  

Nope,Our criteria doesn't allow us to work with Aussie investors.haha

@patrick philipWell, if there's no room to negotiate a low price to allow for rehab and then arv, what do you think?