If that country is central to a larger region, you maintain at least some control over that region.While the U.S. may not need the oil specifically, having control over the Iraqi oil fields and production provides the U.S. a good degree of control over political aspects of the region they otherwise couldn't.Though I still maintain it was just as much for personal profit by senior officials in the last administration as well as personal retaliation again Saddam by W for the assassination attempt on his father.

I've seen a number of lots like this around here and its a positive aspect of the lot.

good point--I didn't think of the forgery aspect.

But I know what you meant, so barring all of the above aspects, I think Mark makes a good point, REITs might give you the long term returns without much of the hands on management.

Though I couldn't disagree with Mike more about most aspects of life, the man gives good advice in select areas :mrgreen: .This makes sense for most landlords on this website.

He went on with the education aspect and promised "town hall meetings" to meet with those concerned, yada-yada-yada.

There is not a single aspect that's not trashed...

Of the dozens of books that I have read it is the most encompassing of all the aspects that go into building a real estate investing business.

A 6 inch exterior wall running 40 ft. will contain 20 sg ft. actually a little more with siding, sheeting and sheetrock.A buyer is usually more concerned with actual room sizes (for furniture) and living space, this is the useable sq. ft. assumed.Commercial will use the exterior demension and if interior space is measured, say to rent an office, many go to the center of a common hallway and the center of the walls, so that the landlord does not lose rents from the interior wall space in the building.Another aspect of measuring mistakes is that the tax man and utility companies as well as surveyors might be using an Engineer's Tape, marked to tenths of a foot not inches.

America as well as the islands, but here in cowboy country where gas guzzlers reighn, central units are akin to the SUV.As far as the rental aspect, I doubt it would make much difference, might even be better after selling the tenant on the economy of running a split system over a central unit.