My main issue: How did you get the financing for your next property?

This structure provides a lot of benefits over the typical self-directed IRA.

It's located in an okay neighborhood, not the best from my standpoint, but is close to a main street and an university (12min walk). 

Additional costs such as closing costs (investment property and home equity loan, vacancy in the beginning, repairs)My main question is: Is a home equity loan a reasonable way to generate money for your first deal? 

It sounds like it needs a substantial amount of rehab (to your benefit) so if you can get into it for a low price with seller financing that would be ideal.

The Musks of the world have an ax to grind and often swim upstream just because they are in the habit, not because they are exercising critical thinking skills.My view of the right order is to get a good education, get a job with benefits, suck it up and learn for a few years, hopefully something that may help you if you do think real estate is a path you can take - and then buy a house of your own. 

Your experience as maintenance supervisor will be a huge benefit when you own properties - you'll be way ahead of the game! 

I will use real estate investing as a vehicle to free me from my "9-5 job" in order to spend with my family and live a purposeful life.I am mainly interested in buy-and-holds, but I'll keep my mind open for now as I am just getting started.My fiancé and I may very likely be moving to Germany within the next 1-2 years.

I believe that is mainly to keep stains from potentially seeping into the porous material that granite is. 

I am wondering if there is an easy way in Cook County to find the amount of legal units in a multifamily property without pulling a zoning certificate.My situation:I have a property that is being marketed as a 5 unit, 3 units main & 2 units coach house.