For example, if you only have a couple properties, don't jump into a million dollar property unless you have the ability to recover if everything goes wrong.  

I'm going to use a bit of analogy here...For a real estate investor, a spreadsheet or calculator is a tool...Just like a skill saw is a tool for a carpenter...As a carpenter apprentice, you should learn the necessary 'skill sets' and 'crafts' to safely and responsibly use your carpentry tools to provide a professionally finished product for your clients.As a new real estate investor, one of your main 'skills sets' or 'crafts' that you should develop is the ability to analyze the financials of potential deals. 

If you're taking any part of an option fee in the contract and then assigning a contract , the CFPB and Dodd Frank look at that as some kind of financing arrangement as per my RMLO, and I want to protect myself in case the tenant buyer gets a lawyer and says that the "ability to repay rule was not followed".Bottom line get a RMLO with lease option assignments and underwrite the tenant buyer.

Of course this requires some knowledge, a great contractor, a strong grasp of ARV, an ability to put money in or find private capital and prices that stay where they are or keep going up4) Invest in a market that is a few hours away so you can drive there and do the same as step 2 but with a little less risk becasuse you can go there quickly if need be. 

Lower price, 6 months no interest, higher rate, lower down payment, you are really only limited by your creativity & ability to negotiate a deal that works for you.

The old.....do I save on taxes and shoot down my ability to borrow....question.

Ask them what if any violations are listed against your property or those you intend on acquiring and that you plan to address said violations to the best of your ability in a reasonable amount of time and then follow through and do so.

I am a Realtor, and although it is nice to make more money from a single transaction, our duty is to fully represent buyers to the best of our abilities, which means showing them any and everything that meets their criteria.

Hey Matt,The loan provision refers to your ability to take a personal loan from the 401k plan, up to $50k or 50% of your vested balance, whichever is less.

I'd recommend your first pass is based on ability to find units with rent-to-value ratios that are solid.Step 2: Use jobs and economic growth to narrow down to 2 markets.