. - The fact that there are other revenue streams - Creative Financing strategies that I never thought of before, leveraging others' $$- Deals are not found but created - Knowledge + Systems = GOLDENPlenty more but I think I have enough to get me started on a deal and I have one in mind already!

I've been looking at a lot of multi family buildings here in NH, and since many of them are older homes that have been converted into apartments (2-4 units), many of which have common heating systems, so the rent includes heat.With a background in (commercial) energy management and utility billing systems, these seem like they can be good opportunities for me to go in, lower rent and recover utility costs (subject to existing leases of course).

With the other attributes I use a point system where they get points for having what I want and lose points for having problems.  

It's challenging at first as you develop "systems" and training your tenants, but I'm starting to get out of the weeds now. 

Last month we moved to an all cash system for all household expenses.

Appears as if you have begun to narrow down the niche of real estate you wish to embark on.Bigger Pockets has various resources: ebooks, blogs, forums, podcasts, webinars, colleagues, keyword alerts, an awards system, s learn section, informative people in many fields of real estate, and more.Consider spending 30 minutes for 30 consecutive days on Bigger Pockets.

I have a unique perspective as my mom is a real estate agent and my dad is a painter/contractor.

@Jeff Mikos this is a great question and I am curious if different MLS systems have the ability to search by keyword.

She was always trying to get rent reductions (i.e. when the AC blew and it took two days to do a complete new HVAC system) and I believe her decision to vacate is based on the fact that when she discovered her glass balcony door was shattered when she got home at 8pm that it took until the next day to get it fixed.Regardless, her deposit is less than one month's rent, and she has't paid.  

The roof is only 6 years old. 2 of the HVAC systems are newer, 2 are older.