I'm an engineer by profession so like to get into the weeds when my money is involved.Seems a deed of trust does exactly what it's name implies ... in exchange for a loan, the property owner deeds (conveys) legal (not equitable) title to a trust, giving the trustee specific powers, namely, the power of sale if default, and power to (re)convey when debt is satisfied, and probably other powers. 

One simple planning devise most do in their estate plans is to combine the estate tax exemption for each spouse in a trust (called an A/B trust).

Originally we thought they were just the debt collector but they served him papers for a judicial forclosure claiming he owed them almost double what was remaining on his principal due to back taxes and home insurance payments that I highly doubt they have been paying.

A little insight @Brandon Williams, Shorewest pulls data from the MLS's IDX feature, the most up to date data for non Realtors is Realtor.com.3&4 units tend to be in high demand for the casual investor, the debt level is not terrifying, and most owner own maybe 1 or 2 properties, as a diversification play in their retirement strategy, this makes them highly desirable, and pushes the price up.

I did my first deal with a mountain of debt and I was making ~45k salary.

Also, Freddie SBL will not allow secondary debt so your leverage will be your leverage until you refinance.  

Example:Securing Debt on a property with a 1st TD mortgage, held by a Land Trust.Then, Having Interest in the Land Trust sold to other investors, via Partial Assignment of Beneficial Interest in the Land Trust.Jack Shea talks about it also:http://www.jackshearealestate.com/wp-content/uploa...Below are samples of an Assignment of Beneficial Interest in a Land Trust which held a 2nd TD on a Fix&Flip in Sherman Oaks...

yea... apjones is near Northside.... but it’s a fringe street.... that combined with the color, size, lack of parking probably makes this one tough.  

Meaning they are going to combine both units as 1.

Short term I'm working on squaring up my credit, paying down debt and getting my credit score up.