My wife convinced me to live in an overpriced apartment in the Rice Military/Washington Ave. area our first year there, and then we bought a house in the Rice Village area the following year.

You will need to give proper notice and follow the procedures for eviction in Arkansas.

Good luck, I am following and want to hear your outcome...

Follow through with your thinking of forced appreciation and increasing potential income just not the porch idea so much.

Ellis, Congratulations on getting the correct mindset and pushing yourself to begin as a real estate investor!

(Hint: Follow Walmart - their customers tend to be your tenants)Conservative Underwriting - Leaving some "cookies in the closet" is a phrase my partner refers to when we are underwriting parks. 

I know an investment property mortgage tends to have a higher rate than a primary residence, but is there some other rule I don’t know about with cash-out refis on investment properties that pushes the rates even higher?

The low down VA loan is a way to enter the high priced San Diego RE market without a lot of money.I am neither a veteran or a mortgage broker but believe the following to be a good path for those who have a VA loan option:The VA loan is for owner occupied purchases but can be used to purchase up to a quad (up to a 4 unit property).I recommend new investors start with a detached duplex. 

Anyone who doesn't show up during this window is automatically ruled out.I find that with this method, it saves me time and shows me who is respects my time by following instructions and showing up on schedule. 

Since you're following David Greene's strategy, looks like you've found the podcast ;) I can't recommend it highly enough as you grow your knowledge base in REI.