I'm a licensed Real estate agent and investor in the state of Texas, focusing on buying homes AS-IS, as well as helping clients list and sell properties.

Hey Robert, my wife and I are local and she is a real estate broker.

I’ve specialized in working with real estate investors for many years, and I’d love to hear more about your goals.

Warning:If you depreciate a property down near zero and then have to sell your property at a loss during a situation of distress...You could end up giving all the proceeds to the bank AND owe the IRS a big chunk of money for recapture.Long-term tax planning with real estate needs to be coupled with risk management and making sure you don't lose any properties.

DTI < 33%I've been constantly getting advised by my real estate agent (& i've discussed this with multiple agents) that if I add any contingencies to the offer, it won't stand a chance in the bay area market.If that is the case, how do I protect myself from challenges which could be found during home inspection / pest inspection related contingencies?

I’m based in Fayetteville, NC, and I’m looking to get into buy-and-hold real estate investing.

I have used both TSP loan and HELOC to purchase investment...I certainly thought the ROI from real estate was better than relying on highly fluctuating stock market. 

Any form of real estate, real estate syndications, or private lending is fine.

Also for me I do not consider this as investing in real estate.

There are always opportunities in buying real estate, businesses, companies, etc., as long as you know (or think you know) what you are in for.