The first step is to determine how much time you can devote to real estate investing: it will help you narrow your focus to either passive or active RE investing.

We have an active meetup that meets about once a month. 

@Reid MathewsGenerally speaking, if your rental activities rise to the level of a 'trade or business', any costs that are 'ordinary and necessary' for running a rental real estate business can be expensed.

If the government decides that whatever money he puts into the deal was gained through illegal activities (e.g. drug dealing, extortion, etc), they can seize those funds - and I guess any assets he acquired through their use.2.

@Rupert GrantAs you probably already know Solo 401k plan is not for everyone - you must have legitimate self-employment activity or business with earned income in order to qualify for it.

It does not cover all types of liability or most landlord-tenant issues--that’s where a proper asset protection structure comes in.Integrity is also great, and is certainly an element of how you do your part to keep your asset protection plan effective.

Most DC HOAs actively dissuade short-term rentals and allow no more than two leases per year per unit, which is consistent with DC housing law.

Been thinking about this for quite some time, passive investing versus active investing...…..

@Matthew Thibeault I'm not sure what part of the country you live in but I would recommend making a list of the 5 most active investors in your area and locating their office and I would walk right in the front door and tell them exactly what you just wrote on this forum.

(Even discussing a home for sale that you don't already own is a license-required activity in MA)Remember that we operate on 100% commission.