One of the important things for me has been to be money minded and take emotions out of being a landlord.

On my mothers side, they are highly educated, but not concerned with money and little financial discipline.  

Don't say what you think, say what you know.. i hate it when people get emotional or talk too much, it's a real estate transaction.. pure and simple!

We're caught between large portfolios that were built two generations ago and the alumni of a large development company headquartered here that enjoy having a building or two here while they make their money elsewhere.It seems there is a lot of emotional cash parking here and/or very long term plays.I'd love any insights on lazy inefficient markets.

If so then maybe the argument for 30 year notes applies but you rarely see people show that much discipline.

Leave emotions out of it. 

Think logically and non-emotionally before doing anything.

So would this other book called The Millionaire Next Door.OK, with that in mind to help get you on the road to the kind of iron financial discipline and focus on finances you need to do better at getting the brutal debt boot off your neck, looking at your salary and your wife's eventual willingness to earn more in her own work, you're not in THAT bad shape, really.

We are here for investors who are not local, investors with large portfolios, investors who don't have time to vet and coordinate and manage vendors, investors who don't have the knowledge or systems to consistently screen tenants within Fair Housing, investors who are too emotionally triggered by lease violations or sob stories why the rent isn't paid, for accidental landlords, etc etc etc.For those who are local and have a small enough portfolio to handle it themselves, I think it's a great experience and makes you a smarter investor in the long run.

Never get emotional about it and never let your eagerness to grow and be successful override your criteria.Just my take.