Not to hijack your thread, but do any seasoned offshore real estate investors here know if foreign real estate investments over $50,000 trigger FATCA reporting requirements?

Either way (agent or investor) you are spending a great deal of time and money up front in most cases just to make a buck.

I have a question for investors in Massachusetts, has the market dried out in Massachusetts for multi-family homes in your opinion? 

Do you have access to private equity investors or/and key principles and co-sponsors with a track record?

Didn't have to find  a buyer, but during my purchase I've been in contact with several buyers through my local investors group  

IMO the inventory shortage has pushed primary buyers into investor territory. 

Should I focus on paying that off first before I invest or does it make sense to start my real estate journey and use the cash flow to help pay it off faster?

You didn't finish your thought but Id confidently say that hitting the walls, ceiling and subfloor with Kilz primer will take care of the stale reeky smell of cigarettes. 

Hey Rookie or experienced investors!  

Here is the summary if you are interested.In this case, the main question is when did the investor completed his start-up phase and became actively engaged in his business.Whether a taxpayer is engaged in a trade or business is determined using a facts and circumstances test under which courts have focused on the following three factors that indicate the existence of a trade or business: (1) whether the taxpayer undertook the activity intending to earn a profit; (2) whether the taxpayer is regularly and actively involved in the activity; and (3) whether the taxpayer's activity has actually commenced.