On the commercial tenant, a dental office is not going to move based on a short term noise problem of tenants walking around above their unit for 3- 6 months.

My point was to steering business not making a recommendation.I was also speaking to perception, having been around in the business for so long, often it's not what is illegal or unethical, but the perception of conflicts of interest.

Often times a contractor will try to get you to expose and seal the foundation and add a drain tile around the problem area.

Here, unfinished basements are often left alone, unfinished, but that depends if you're getting in higher end markets.Many in the mid market level would rather have the opportunity to expand the way the want, giving them the hope of increasing value even for a homeowner.

At least in SoCal/Los Angeles County I should be able to experience decent appreciation.(2) I don’t have a good feel for the area, so I’m hesitant to purchase in the wrong type of area (bad location, bad pool of tenants, etc.).(3) I'm a beginning investor who intends to be a hands-on property owner (at least as much as possible at the start), which means a lot of long drives from L.A. showing properties, dealing with utility companies, handy-man/contractor visits, etc.

I know when I cook, I often pull up recipes from the internet and I'm sure others do also.

Often people take on a second job either before or after your primary gig.

no thx.when people say they invest in these areas, I often wonder if it's really their $ or are they "managing a project."

This comes up so often that I wrote a post on it earlier today called "Just Do It".Seriously, there are a BUNCH of Realtors who are "in-active" as you called it.

I hope to speak with you more often