For example: if you write of $20,000 in Depreciation, and you have a net income of $0 on your schedule E, you'll have a $20,000 net profit in the Lenders eyes; giving you $1,667 per month in qualifying income from the rental.If you want do qualify with more income from the rental, you'll need to write off less expenses.

Renters in Lathrop in my opinion are cream of the crop especially in the Stonebridge and Mossdale Subdivisions.

here some unselfish advice: 1) keep your eyes on your assets.

How much of the end result is 'luck' vs 'doing the right things' depends on the eye of the beholder, you can tell the exact same story to two people with different worldviews and have get completely different interpretations of what led to that success. 

So far the talks are positive, just need to ensure the deal I'm eyeing doesn't get snagged by someone else.

Trust me, they'll roll their eyes when they see electric baseboard heat, and they'll say, "You know how much this is going to cost to convert to gas heat?"  

,Actually, accreditation hurts you in the eyes of savvy people checking you on BBB (which, of course, checking you on BBB means they're not as savvy as you might like) because they know you paid for that rating.BBB only means something to those who lend credence to them.

Just going to keep an eye on a few factors: my portfolio (growth, possibility of moving beyond "A" neighborhoods with "A" tenants), whether or not I self manage any additional properties as I grow, tax legislation, etc.  

So when you plan your initial strategy, don’t underestimate the time it will take.According to Warren Buffett, “Games are won by players who focus on the playing field—not by those whose eyes are glued to the scoreboard.”

It might also be an option to paint it (to seal in the asbestos), get a good studfinder and some really long eye screws, install the eye screws through the tile into the joists, and then hang a modern drop ceiling like you normally would (so it looks better).