I try not to do referrals in the forums due to the fact that these messages live on in perpetuity, and who I am recommending today might be completely different than who I am recommending a year or two down the road.

Goal: Build a passive income from rentals that will allow my husband, my daughter, and myself to live on mission for Jesus Christ.

- to me this was another way of saying "I am going to have some of my undocumented employees living here (yes they disclosed some undocumented individuals, however, the potential leaseholder is documented)Someone please talk some sense into me LOL this is my only official applicant as of now.

i think it is very difficult to live off of the 'cash flow' from long term rentals, and it takes either a handful of quality, paid off properties or 10-25 leveraged properties depending on your market.making back your down payment in 2.5 years is actually really good - which makes me skeptical of that deal =) you can post the numbers here if you want.finally - check this thread out. 

Some that were built in the late 70s - early 80s had both large dining areas and living rooms, and one of those spaces could be converted to another bedroom with a strategically placed wall.

I have also been around real estate my entire life, rehabbing properties and assisting my family manage their properties throughout the years.         

Everyone want to live in class A++ neighborhood and sometimes the only way to go there is by buying condo.

"....I read a book once that told me to do this...." words to live by, and also words to die by.  

I have 2 properties in Florida (live in Maryland) one is a long term rental and the other is a short term rental, both are in our personal names.

I live about 1.5 hrs east of Cincinnati.