I am pretty sure it is a check and not in gift cards.

Send post cards?

As someone who hands their business card to every buyer at closing and say, "Give me a call directly if you have any issues with the house..."

I know you also use the LLC to keep financial liabilities out of your personal liability, meaning they may run your credit when applying for LLC credit card etc, but when and if approved the liability will fall under the LLC and not under both.

Now he is sitting on a lot of cash and I asked if he would be interested in carrying the first trust deed on this house and I would use the money to pay off several small loans that I have (ie. student loans, credit cards, etc....)

I agree with James more information is needed.I don't necessarily care if a tenant pays there credit card bills on time.

You should get some cards from this.

You do one deal and get paid every month for the term of the note, if you play your cards right!

Part of me wonders if at the end of 5 years if it'd be better to pay off all of my school debt(no credit cards), or to have more money saved?

For the open house, I bring applications, pens (cheapo's since they tend to disappear), business cards (not critical), a wastepaper basket (you'd be surprised), and copies of the CC&R's if an HOA is involved.