As a side note, one ofmy long range goals is to sell properties in my SOLO401K and SDIRA and pull those funds out in largish chunks (say to but a retirement home) that will cause high income for that year, and 'offset' that with new purchases outside of the Self Directed Accounts that I can use Cost Segregation on to have similar Passive Losses to offset that income coming out of the retirement accounts.Thanks, Dan DietzFor purposes of qualifying as a real estate professional, “personal services” means any work performed by an individual in connection with a trade or business, but not any work performed by an individual in the individual’s capacity as an investor.Work performed by an individual as an investor includes (1) studying and reviewing financial statements or reports on operations of the activity, (2) preparing or compiling summaries or analyses of the finances or operations of the activity for the individual’s own use, and (3) monitoring the finances or operations of the activity in a non-managerial capacityIf you can show that non investor activity is connected with the rentals, you can log it to show that you qualify. 

So, the software company will have procedures in place to monitor what is going on.

The thing is, insurance is only retroactively and doesn't keep you from getting vandalized.In marginal neighborhoods they'll watch you and they'll not only take water heater, heating system, plumbing (if copper), but they tear open the wall to take the wiring (which they'll later put in a little bon fire to burn off the rubber coating) to sell for copper.I would suggest for you to either get a wireless, monitored alarm system , which can be a deterrent in the first place or see if a company like this is in your area , who covers windows and doorshttp://www.vacantinvestmentprotection.com/

To get that you'll have to have built all the roads, sidewalks, infrastructure, etc. basically, you have to have built everything you showed on the preliminary plat, then you can sell lots to builders.At a glance, the numbers do not seem out of whack anywhere, it's a deal worth chasing if you're up for it.also, tip about the forum (I just learned also) type in '@?'

It's an easy solution for them because the returns are great and we already have all the infrastructure to manage their investments from start to finish.  

So all you have to do is monitor it, and reach out every few weeks to ask them to reverse the charges.

I personally plan on having a $300-$400 camera system that monitors the exterior of the building that will record a month of activity.

If the extra income stream is all you care about, it would be easy to play with the numbers and negotiate a deal with an alarm company to get less (or no) money upfront and instead agree on a lower monitoring rate.The numbers make more sense with the higher volume of properties and obviously the situation depends on where your properties are located (A, B, C, or D class neighborhoods, etc.).

The city of Milwaukee has actully code on how you have to contain some breeds like rottweilers and pitt bulls that effect landlords, because they require certain infrastructure like a completley contained "cage" an agressive dog cannot jump out or dig under the fence.  

I really want to get sub meters in and monitor them monthly, but I don't want to have to drive to the units to check the meters every month or three.