For some reason, many treat this as an either or, I believe it should be a BOTH issue.

I just dont get it how can any respective landlord not treat their properties as a business is beyond me.

My rule of thumb is that if I think it MIGHT be sketchy, I treat is as if it IS sketchy.

I didn't start RE yesterday or the day before, or even 5 years ago...But, I don't know everything and I do make mistakes, made my 5th error in 4 months already this morning, I'm slipping :) Escrow accounting is an accounting aspect under GAAP and conforms uniformily in all states, I don't need to look up how funds are to be treated, if your escrow account is in a bank (which it is) I already know the laws.

I was half assing it, treating it like a hobby and not a business.

This has enabled me to insist on being treated by attorneys, their staff and the legal community as a peer and NOT as a vendor.

Depending on the size of area you are in there might only be a handful of agents that do short sales, piggybacking on J Scott's idea, call them up, introduce yourself and treat them to lunch.

A smaller number of lenders have not rejected this option and claim this can be treated as any other residential fourplex, but nays have definitely outweighed yays so far which makes me a little concerned.

I want to do my buissness the right way and treat people fair.

Should I just treat the net amount received as my "gross rent", and then deduct all of my expenses from this gross rent?