In selecting tenants I remind myself that Hire slowly, Fire quickly. 

Hire slow, fire fast.

Third, for estate planning purposes, you may need to probate the RE in the local state if you're just using a single-member LLC (that's going to change state by state).

These buyers prefer rustic modern (think Magnolia Homes) and, especially, if you go the extra mile to keep and highlight any existing historic home features (cove ceilings, please double check for batchelder tile on the fire place!

There are those available to investors, such as depreciation (including component and accelerated depreciation methods) and 1031 exchanges, and the ability to hold real estate in an LLC and gift out fractional interests for estate planning or income shifting reasons, but still retain control of the asset.There is also the ability to refinance and suck out equity for other investments, without it being a taxable event. 

This is why renters should get renters insurance, it’s very cheap and replaces their stuff in case of a fire/flood/theft. 

@Mark Miles and @Ken Latchers If a real estate investor moves a property from their personal name into a trust it is considered for estate planning purposes and therefore does not violate the due one sale clause.

I am targeting better areas such as lake forest, lake bluff, Schaumburg, lake zurich, vernon hills, long grove, areas i believe will continue to be thriving markets.

Since then I’ve done various remodels/improvements to two homes I’ve owned, three that my in-laws owned, and helped my dad rebuild his house from the ground up after losing the home I grew up in to a fire.

1. agents can ruin a deal that the seller and buyer worked out and spoon fed to the agents. 2. seller turned power off a day early creating unnecessary "fires" to put out ahead of time3. tenants need boundaries (immediately) to limit unnecessary interactions4. if you buy a home warranty remember you bought it.... or you'll pay more out of pocket unnecessarily 5. don't do too much too fast or only do exactly the repairs you say you'll do.