Hi Jan,Welcome to BP and the start of your real estate goals journey.Regarding your question about a RE license: I am licensed, and I find it useful to get access to back-end MLS and CBA data, forms, legal support, and the occasional commission.

Rents in the area support $650/unit at the low end. 

I'm no economist, but I think that Detroit's issues stemmed from an economy supported almost entirely by the auto industry, which then shifted its operations overseas.

Hello BP peopleI find myself at on the fence, I have a owner occupied triplex in Venice CA I have owned this since 1995 the property has appreciated a lot looking at about a sale of 2.2 million My problem is that I can't get a REFI based on my debt to loan, it's 80% even though my income on the property supports the new loan the bank is looking at my personal income only, I have tried for 3 years to try and get my first and second combined $720k I also have a large CC debt on the side.

Hello BP peopleI find myself on the fence, I have a owner occupied triplex in Venice CA I have owned this since 1995 the property has appreciated a lot looking at about a sale of 2.2 million My problem is that I can't get a REFI based on my debt to loan, it's 80% even though my income on the property supports the new loan the bank is looking at my personal income only, I have tried for 3 years to try and get my first and second combined $720k I also have a large CC debt on the side.

Hello BP peopleI find myself on the fence, I have a owner occupied triplex in Venice CA I have owned this since 1995 the property has appreciated a lot looking at about a sale of 2.2 million My problem is that I can't get a REFI based on my debt to loan, it's 80% even though my income on the property supports the new loan the bank is looking at my personal income only, I have tried for 3 years to try and get my first and second combined $720k I also have a large CC debt on the side.

What happens if one of you has a financial crisis and cannot support the company if things go bad, say a 20k bill comes up?

I 100% support everything @James Wise has said.

Also after having had to do a short sale on her house and since she has been on a fixed disability income she has a support/careful mentality towards me "doing real estate" but not willing or able to contribute financially

Thanks for the support BP community to help me get there.