In the employment verification process, one of the questions the lender ask your employer is "what is the likelihood of continued employment for one year"?

Your alternative is losing stacks of those Benjamins to continued lost rent, paying attorneys and the court/administrative costs.Messing with the utilities in the dead of winter in Chicago will only put you on the wrong side of the law.

If you are carrying a mortgage for say the next 6 months you have to calculate carrying costs paid out each month with 4 months before putting on the market plus another two if you get it under contract right away to close it.You still might be better off selling today it just varies.

In Memphis there are a handful of players, most of whom are on BP who all know what they are doing but their required margins vary a lot.

Time taken vary from state to state.Not all properties go through probate process. example being properties which are lower the threshold set by the state.

If you're simply doing your own deals on the side (buying and selling) without a formal listing in the MLS or a commission involved, you should be able to continue as if you didn't have a license.

Assets will continue to provide value even after you buy them- real estate investments, stocks, college education (value in the form of smarts rather than money), educational books, etc.Remember the advice of "take advice from people you would trade shoes with".

or Some combination to get a varied portfolio started?

I'd much rather be a recognized business with hundreds of properties that banks jump at the chance to lend to than a "nobody" with tons of hidden assets that has limited access to debt/capital to continue to grow with.

While I think the greatest purchases in Phoenix was a year or so ago I am still a big believer in that market and think it will continue to appreciate but at a more "normal" rate.