Other markets, like mine, will commonly cash flow with no downpayment, but we didn't see any significant appreciation in values over the last 10 years (3-5% a year).

Common sense would tell you not to do this, but people do it on a smaller scale all the time, by assuming a shorter mortgage and/or a higher down payment.

You can never 1031 exchange back into real estate because you no longer own real estate. 1031/TIC Investment - you can 1031 exchange into a tenant-in-common investment property (TIC property).

Ordinarily, notwithstanding the common advice to start with a single family property, my preference is to acquire a fourplex, triplex, or duplex (in that order).

I've got a friend in the business, who doesn't really cut me any breaks, he knows he can "slip" my job if a bigger one comes up, and most important he doesn't have to charge me the FULL SLAB, as long as I use a very common granite!

yeah, but i couldn't really hide the fact that i was out of state, and out of normal phone reach.

Focusing on commonality and how a deal will benefit them always helps.

If it is then I would try it.In reference to is it bad business, I would say that it is very common.

Answer the phone, forward calls and give information contained only on the listing agreement as limited by the broker;2.

Not to say that you couldn't find a good mentor online or over the phone, and not to say that you shouldn't accept advise from someone you don't know.