Track every income and expense you incur and/or are responsible for in report form and review them regularly with others you know and try to possibly reduce the expenses or increase income.In the beginning especially, always do this when you are looking at properties you are to buy, you do the math anaysis and try to look at the subject properties before you make an offer or at least have clause in the sales contract that allows you some time (usually 10 to 15 days) to make a detailed inspection of the subject property and possibly back out without a penalty that hurts you too bad.I found BP about 19 months ago while at home and medically recovering when I needed something that was more flexible than a typical 9 to 5 job and I was qualified for at 60.  

Think of the same thing from a big company.You go to a "satellite dish provider" for serviceThey say they will have a tech out within 30 days and charge you a technician fee of $50.00 up frontYou call and try and get them earlier for the Smith/Johnson fight on PPVThey say "Sorry you signed a contract it could take 30 days for a technician and we are pretty busy, the regular tech quit and we are training a new guy.

If you want to work retail store sales or something like that, entirely different story.

You must use 1099 forms designated and approved by the IRS available from stationery or office supplies stores, or follow its procedures for filing electronically.

I used to digitize it and throw away the paperwork, but have started storing the actual papers.

Again, from what I have heard that having a regular job can help you get a loan from a national bank and get the lowest rate.  

In full disclosure, I never have done a loan this size personally only has dealt with banks for clients and know many friends who own very large portfolio who deal with banks on a regular basis. 

I'm looking at a building Jersey City that has two apartment (one that I would occupy for a year to meet the FHA requirement) and a store front.

Great place to start is going regularly to the Memphis Investor Group (MIG). 

The seller said that she already got an offer to rent it 800/month from a local handyman in order for him to store his equipment but she's more keen on selling.Any idea how I should approach coming to a price and negotiating for this thing?