Hi,I'm currently in an IT sales position and am researching REI as a way to diversify and build a revenue stream apart from my full-time sales position.

I'm looking for additional streams of income to offset my current income.

negativity in this world is far more common than an honest politician. when you are swimming up stream, you are going to find more hurdles and pitfalls than if you swan downstream. going downstream is easy, any idiot can do it. its those of us that swim upstream that have the courage and foresight to reach our goals. if all you wanted to do is just exist and go about life until you are dead, well, then follow the crowd and swim downstream. pretty soon you will find yourself just as unhappy and negative as they are, but comfortable because you are barely eeking out an existence with minimal work involved. sounds just a tad bit boring to me. those of us who are willing to swim upstream meet challenges, hurdles and negativity along the way, but we also have the biggest stories to tell because we have had some damn great adventures along the way. its not the reaching the goal that gives you the stories to tell, its the journey getting there. you can have the thrill of achieving your goal without the hell to go thru in getting there. that hell gives you some incredible stories to tell along the way, and if you wanna try it again, well, now you know what to expect along the way and the next journey won't be quite so hard. let those little people sit in their cubicles along their way and have nothing to show or tell about it in the end. i would rather have the journey to talk about when i get to my goals. 

It becomes very management intensive to juggle the constant stream of newbie partners, many of whom are very happy to steal from you and not complete the rehabs.

You're looking for the CAP Rate:The income stream (GSI - expenses) is = NOI andThe CAP rate is that NOI / Purchase Price.SO nominal math says the cap rate becomes less whenthe NOI goes downor the Purchase Price goes upI use the cash-on-cash  (NOI / down payment) to determine annual return for plunking down my $$$.  

Carson has a dependable stream of renters along with the flipping possibilities with a home like this.

This could be a good way to get your feet wet and collect a stream of income while saving up for your next property.

That vendors never accept late payments in order to protect a long-term revenue stream?

I think banks are risk averse but I'm sure some banks are willing to help when you can convince them with realistic cashflow streams.

They will spill the beans on what is going on, often without me even asking them any questions!