@Jay Hinrichs Regarding holding a single note vs a single house: holding a single house means ownership over the property and an ability to maintain more consistent cash flows.

But the information you've given is consistent with how appraisal really work.Appraisals are always a crap shoot.  

One message that has been consistent is to write everything down.

being consistent... 

Yep this town has some of the highest taxes in the county but it also has some of the best deals for cash flow.If it wasn't for purchase price and consistent rental income, it would definitely not be on my radar.

I may not know how to word this correctly, but does anyone know of an easy way to research the rental prospects for a certain area (ie: how much places go for, how quickly and consistently they are occupied, quality of renters, etc).

One of my biggest life changing goals would be to start waking up at 5:00 am, but it is very very hard. i had it as a goal last year, but i didnt have my mind set to it. this year it is a priority to make myself wake up at 5;00am because i believe it would change my real estate career.My question to you is: whats the best way for me to consistently wake up at 5?  

@Anthony Dooley Do you feed that cash reserve every month with your budgeted amount or do you replenish  that some other way?

I am also active military...and while I have gone a couple months without a paycheck due to a screw-up by finance, I can't sympathize with someone who is consistently late.  

@Joshua Dorkin & @Brandon Turner have been extremely consistent about limiting self promotion in the forums.