They test them using a vacuum. if the seal holds the tank should be fine.

We would purchase using a business line of credit variable on prime rate (5.5% currently) and immediately refinance into 3 mortgages. 

I had this discussion with my local banker, and he says he will still have to underwrite and I will need to qualify, but he sees no issues with originating a mortgage on a property I am using a loan or line of credit as down payment on.Consider loc's... maybe your family/ friends/ partner already has property that a sizeable loc can be placed on?

Total investment of no more than $24,000...using a 10% cap rate and the $200 monthly net you mention.  

It'll take longer to find a house than using a real estate agent, but when you find one, it'll likely be a deal under market value. 

I think it could really help bring in a little income while your getting your real estate business going.I've been using a professional photographer for all my rental and sales listings now for several months. 

I am fairly new to real estate and I'm looking to purchase my first rental property using a home equity line or down payment of my own money.

Yes, you can split your utilities 50/50 and bill it to your tenants, but inevitably a tenant will complain that he/she is not using as much as his/her neighbor, etc.

The next day I was talking to a friend about the task and he recommended using a heat gun to loosen the glue.

But, more importantly, because my PMs have an incentive to get things done on schedule and on budget (they get a piece of the profits), I typically make larger profits than if I were using a GC who was financially incentivized to add to the scope of work (not that they would, but they have a financial incentive to do so).