I have about 7 months of expenses saved up, but to your point Mike, I would not be able to purchase any investment property (any time soon) if I chose to leave here and be a broker.I'm honestly torn, between what could be a great opportunity or a safe and secure job with decent pay.

So I decided to play it safe and wait until the OO period is over.  

Normally, they would say "what do you mean by that", which is a perfect opener for the various techniques I use (Subject, To, Wrap, Lease Option, etc) and that it didn't require fixing up the house or house "showings".

If there is any way to frame out the door to make it a regular height now is the time to do it, you won't regret it and I know it's a duplex so you'd have to probably match the entries.. but this size door is awful to order,, and a storm / screen door is just as costly.Stay informed with the local police safe officer and find out if other type incidents are happening in your area, the lighting, extra locks, new door are super but if someone wants in they will get in.With all the shiny new stuff empty boxes,, in trash of new TV's etc are calling card for burglars.. cut boxes down. 

Evening Fellow Investors, As I am finishing up  @Scott Trench's own Set For Life, I came to a section in the book under "Exploration of Financial Freedom" about The Safe Withdrawal Rate.

I'm wondering if a principle originator pay's a money partner 3 times the interest he get at a "safe investment", say 15% and secure it with a first mortgage.  

Are people choosing less safe communities in order to accommodate?

Review these for cues and clues.You can learn skip tracing techniques or pay experts to do this for you. 

Retirement capitol should be placed in the most conservative and safe vehicle as possible and left alone.

You can go to homewyse.com and use their cost estimators to get an idea of the cost, but I would add about 10-25% on top of their estimates just to be safe.