I'm just starting out as a one person operation right now, not sure if paying for the data at this point would be overkill?

@Linda Weygant Anytime :) it's probably overkill in most cases but seeing the mistake happen just one time at the hands of another CPA was enough to make me ask the question lol.

My goal is to grow my portfolio to a few dozen properties over the next several years, so the common advice I receive of an LLC per property seems like overkill and a huge burden that defeats the purpose of the term "passive"1) What is the best way to accomplish my goal of forming an entity to protect my assets?

I have read through the forums and see people quoting $600 premiums for their properties and I'm not sure if property insurance is more expensive in Houston or if my policy is not the proper type.Does this seem like overkill and too expensive of a policy?

I know many feel it is overkill, but this is what I do, and what my REI Students do.  

We are starting our RE business very soon and as I'm in agreement that the management fee of $45 per quarter seems overkill, I don't agree that we can't borrow the other funds that have been taxed already and not subject to taxes if used but the interest earned off of it is.

Here is my Dodd Frank summary on my BP Blog http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/3/blog_posts/39...Here is my Dodd Frank Library on my BP Bloghttp://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/3/blog_posts/37...You will hear this from some of the most knowledgable Lease Option - Dodd Frank Authorities - There is no case law with pure lease options - Dodd Frank - CFPB.A pure lease and a pure option that is not related (I read you are using a lease and option that is intertwined) does not come into play with Dodd Frank and the CFPB.My view is ANY tenant buyer that I talk to goes through a RMLO underwriting process to protect the Seller and myself.I know that is "over kill", but I do not want a letter from the Tenant Buyer's attorney saying we did not get the Ability to Repay Rules looked at by a RMLO.  

If you were investing higher sums I'd consider suggesting that you use a corporation; however, that would be overkill.

I'm not really familiar with all the terms but I've looked around this forum and it seems like they're recommending an LLC (but I only have that one property and I think it might be overkill at this point).

If I ever got to the point where I had that many properties, I could do something like this:* 10 Multi-Member LLCs (taxable)* Each Multi-Member LLC wholly owns 10 Single Member LLCs (rollup taxation)* Each of the 100 Single Member LLCs hold title to one propertyAgain, this is just a hypothetical solution (overkill) and I dont know if it would work or not, but it accomplishes the goal of isolating liability without going overboard on the tax compliance.