This rise in rates is partly aimed at controlling inflation but has also made borrowing more expensive, reducing purchasing power.Consequently, money is effectively worth less due to inflation, meaning more is needed to purchase the same goods and services as before.

I do not intend to live nor purchase any more property in the state of California. 

I live in one and rent the other for $400 cash flow. 

Profit is income minus expenses. 

When all the expenses associated with owning and maintaining that house exceed the rent you can get from the property you are effectively upside down and are actually paying your tenant to live in the property.  

and they come in 2 types: the old 1920s which have great cur appeal, but are expensive to work on and the 1960s which are much more economical, but look like a shoebox. 

I currently live with my parents so my DTI is less than 43% for sure.credit is goodcurrently have 13k in a roth ira, i have been reading i can use up to 10k tax free one time, should i leverage this?

Most of the expense in removing the tree is in disposing of it.

Due to the "magic" of real estate (i.e. depreciation, expenses etc.), on paper my properties are functioning at a loss (great for taxes, terrible for DTI). 

BiggerPockets just went live with the property manager referal program last week.Click on the Build Your Team option at the top of your page.