only you can figure that out for yourself.So, I'd say there are 5 ways:leveragetax advantages 'buying at the right price based on skilled, sound analysis'rehabbing/identifying 'best use'deal-making(wholesaling, bird dogging, note buying/selling)Some of these can be achieved passively:leverage + tax advantagesBut even those require the work up front to at least identify, analyze and purchase - and set up managementAnd of course: being your own PM, rehabbing project management(or hammer swinging), and all the deal-making options take constant investment of time.Deal-making is a non-starter for me, I can trade hours for dollars at a high rate in my regular business.Buying at the right price is not a skill I believe I have, I could learn it, and I read here a lot, but I am consistently surprised by how many things the experienced people on here point out that I would have missed or have never thought of.So that leaves me seeking leverage and tax advantages but frozen from buying due to my fear of becoming a 'learning example for ohters' by overpaying.So, like you, I suspect, I focus my efforts on my 'other business' and I keep my capital in the stock market.

I recently traded in my 2006 Dodge Ram and am now desinging my new rear window advertising.

ID=64In this BNI chapter I find a realtor, title company, broker, property management firm and other business/trade contacts.

Also, if you sell 2, can you buy 1 as long as you are "trading up"?

Those 2nd NPN's I believe trade closer to 2.5% to 5% of UPB.

Get referrals for skilled trades from other investorsAnd rememberAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Should I look to roll the equity and trade up?

Loan trades are real estate transactions on steroids, with more diligence and moving parts than real property.

I just started learning about REI after 2 years of seeing little or now returns from Forex trading.

LLCs in CA are very expensive.The IRS defines a real estate professional as someone who spends over 750 hours in real estate trade/business (landlord, flipping and building count).