Intuitively, people think that not having a mortgage payment is safer.

As a software developer, I met some Intuit people at a recent conference, and they admitted (very off the record) that Mint is an afterthought at Intuit.

Bad layout?

Many people get this right away out of intuition or luck and never go to the public markets and go straight into real estate investing, however for busy professionals who are the most common passive investor they started investing into their 401(K) because their company offered it and haven't had the time to jump into real estate investing. 

With the right layout you can add internal walls & soundproof it. 

When you're putting out a product that you are intending to sell for top dollar, the last thing you want is a layout that was constrained by some intangible criteria for the buyer which ends up hurting your sale price.

I ran into an issue where after I closed, the person living there isn't the one on the lease and I couldn't even serve eviction papers because I don't know their names. 3) It's OK to pay for good neighborhood, good bones, good layout.

We are getting the house for a good price, it has a lot of sentimental value as well as we have rented it for 6 years, prior to that my wife's parents had rented it for over 22 years (I know) but we understand the value has to make sense as well, similar houses in the same block have been sold for much more, same layout and footprint.

Originally posted by @Shane Welchexcel is not bad for 1 property, otherwise intuit software stuff (the reviled incumbent), the unusable and technologically inept gnucash, the up and coming https://www.xero.com, or the free http://www.investor-realestate-accounts.com/ , this is the one I work with, and it has accounts for real estate rental operation and does double entry. 

Phase 1: Demo/Interior Framing layout walls and rooms. [10 days] Demo whole house/clean up interiorExpand walkway between living room to eating are by 3 feet (install new header)Frame up new laundry area, frame bedroom wallFrame up new patio sliding rough opening and install new sliding patio doorFix water damage floor in hallwayTile bathroom floor and wallsInstall rough electrical throughout house.Install rough plumbing throughout house.Install insulation and drywall sheetrockMeasure windows/door.