Some other key relationships have been my banker (googled portfolio lender and found a guy relatively easily) and my broker, who will look at properties while I travel on business.I'm pretty pumped about the last week's action and I'm setting my goals 10X higher!

I would much rather make the same ROI's, heck even slightly less while sitting on my couch or traveling.

everyone will be different. in my case, it's given me a chance to hire people to do the jobs instead of fixing everything myself. that, in turn, has helped me spend more time with the kids and be home late nights.some people will tell you "i can travel more", i can afford more things, i can rest more, i can exercise more". at the end, it gives you time and money to do whatever you choose.

My dad manages mobile homes that are over 2 hours away each way and travels to the properties once every several years.

Otherwise, I would be wary.There are a couple of anomalies: Smoke Rise and Pine Lake.

For a retired person that might work out really well as it will be money they can use and travel wherever they please while the house is taken care of.

The idea that an individual investor can just step in and by a single property and get some smoking deal on it.. is really not reality in a major metro area with experience and well funded competition.

all good ideas. digging around the house and installing drain tiles would also be a good idea. run the drain tiles to a drain system a good distance from the house so the water travels thru the drain tiles and into the catch basin and away from the house. the key here is to get the water away from the house. you cannot stop water, but you can redirect it. these ideas are expensive, yes, and should be factored into the overall costs associated with the house. if the numbers don't crunch right, run the other way

My unit shows no sign of fire, smoke or water damage.Even though I don't own any of the fire damaged units, do I have any property rights since I have a unit that is directly attached to them?  

My issues were cigarette smoke.