NO one can borrow money at 3%.the only people that can are those that put up their securities  Like stocks and bonds and borrow 50% on them and get the loan from one of the big investment bankers..

Is this a licensed & bonded contractor?

- Do the contractors need to be insured and bonded ? 

Warning, it is primarily a book about stocks, bonds, and the formal markets.

If you hire a company who manages 200 units and has insurance and bonding you might be pretty good. 

That's one of the main reasons the Yale endowment and others invest in real estate to start with: lack of correlation with stocks and bonds.

Its a good way for me to compare the yield on a rental vs. yield on a bond.

@Paul Roth, yes you will have to pay taxes if you use the money you make to buy other assets (real estate, stocks, bonds, etc.).

But for bigger work, such as changing out the electric panel, HVAC, sewage pipe etc,  I suggest you hire the licensed, bonded and insured.

The main dilemma for me right now is that Orange county is offering a generous $15k bond that I qualify for but it's only for first time home owners/ haven't had name on a deed in over 3 years.