I wont forget how amazed one of the agents who was showing me around Atlanta was when I introduced him to Waze a few years ago, which forecast  a stopped car around the bend - and sure enough there it was :)I land up needing to call my US bank on a landline more often than I ever need to call my Iocal bank - (in fact come to think of it I never call my local bank) The solution is to find a cell package that includes foreign calls in the base price- and then you don't think twice when you need to call or for how long.

The answer really depends on your state and local laws and varies from place to place.Rather than worry about two deposits, an easier way (if you can do it) is simply collect a larger security deposit and make sure your lease includes unpaid water bills as something that can be deducted.The best solution is to have a great property and find great tenants who pay their bills.

I'm looking into a property mgmt software as a long-term solution, but its good to know I can sync up all my calendars for free in the meantime.

It could be they are just unreasonable and will not go for any reason which the legal process just has to work itself out OR it could be a reason for which there is a solution to solve the problem.The question then becomes do you the owner of the property want to pursue that possible solution or or do you want to use the legal system?  

I realize the job market and demand is strong here in DFW but I'm concerned things may be overheated considering  property prices have increased by over 60% in the last 5 years or so yet median household wages in the area have pretty much stayed flat...it leads me to wonder how that's a sustainable trend once relocations taper off.

My personal solution is that if we can't do it, I'll identify the overlay and refer it out (in my case this is most typically HELOCs, since minimal/no overlays on the 30YF 1st mortgages was a big part of my 'employer shopping' last time I switched where I hang my license).

But just because you can't do it in 12 months doesn't mean you should "Steer away" building a rental portfolio is a great way to build long term sustainable income and wealth.

Thanks for the input, very helpful as we are trying to eliminate the complex ideas and get down to the simplest solution for us AND whoever does the taxes.

It's interesting that the drought could both drives prices higher due to limiting the new supply of permitted homes, while also potentially lowering prices due to fear of a sustainable water supply for the existing population.

The only way mentors will know what value I provide is if they take time to talk to me share their wants and needs and find out if I can be the solution to a problem they have.