We want to put our work ethic to the test and control our destiny and as such our income.

Or some external factor out of your control like a huge company moving in closeby could raise property values and rents, or an oil spill could really screw things up. 

Control everything you are responsible for until you can support somebody else.  

Taxes, property management fees, insurance, heating (this old building uses oil heating), 10% of rent per year to maintenance, snow removal, pest control, etc add up to ~$29,000/yr.

my neighborhood doesn't support granite...again going for durable and cost effective.Paneling - the living room has paneling and i was thinking about just painting over it and not risking pulling it down and opening the pandora's box that MAY lie beneath.  

What was supposed to be "paint and rent" turned into a few sheets of drywall, new electrical panel, new front door, paint and rent.  

A recent project with a $125k rehab took me 4 months and that was full gut, addition, permits, pool repair, new plumbing, new electrical panel and some rewire, etc.

I guess one thing is weather or not they say everything is OK you still go in for inspection. excuses are need to photo graph elec panel for insurance, need to check filter on furnace, need to check something that makes sense,,, Nice to do within 3 months and at least get your nose in the door every 6. 

I am 100% control of my investments this way and don't have to worry about foreclosing on an NPN.

People act as it I control taxes and insurance and they can't afford to pay that much or at least some shining stars have done me that way.