I'm in Texas which is a community property state and you can protect your property and any future earnings if you keep them separate.

If your income is significantly earned from buying notes, you may be seen as being in the business of that activity.

I also make all my own soap, using lye (a key ingredient in making meth) which smells terrible (albeit only for a few minutes).

My dream is to be able to spend more time with them and not depend on an earned paycheck to provide their needs.Here's my story: I would like to begin investing in the SF Bay Area.

That is a quick return and interest earned to your IRA.

That equates to several thousand dollars of earned income you do not have to pay taxes on now.The other big benefit is it also can help you out with your allowable passive RE investing losses.

That being said, one can do well by investing in certain companies that are easy to understand, dividend payors, are market leaders and consistently grow earnings.

If that is the case, wouldn't it be easier to just put the money in REITS and earn 2-3% a year?

They may have earned a servicing contract for your mortgage from the investor, but my bet is that your mortgage is either owned by FNMA or Freddie.

I have read that a good method for estimating the true value of a home is to compare it to expected yearly rental income, much like a Price/Earnings ratio.