I started a blog late last year - more of a journal - its in my signature profile.

You're still young and have lots of options.You must've started late in the military.

Great story on Yahoo about late night infomercials.

I have quad 4 unit buildings that are town homes.What I have found is it is much better to put all tile on the main floor instead of carpet or vinyl.Upstairs with the carpet it doesn't get worn down as much as the main level.When you evict a tenant with tile it is mop and go and not fixing tears in vinyl or carpet that can't be salvaged.The dirty carpets tend to attract bug problems as well.You can find tile cheap and buy a big area rug to warm it up for cheap.The key with tile is the contractors can kill you on the install fee.You have to find a contractor hungry for money.I can get tile 12 X 12 for 56 cents a sq ft.Main level I would spend about 229.60 in tiles,another 150.00 in mix for bonding and grout for finish and just put back old finish trim down and repaint.Can get a hungry contractor for 75.00 a day to tile day one and finish grout 75.00 day two.Total cost 529.60 for main level.I have 1,178 sq ft with 2 story but I leave carpet upstairs and on the stairs and tile the main.Don't pay high prices.Be patient and turn over rocks to find the great deals.

My contractor has left the job unfinished with my money where the work was about 80% finished.

You gotta talk to seller or seller reps.Marketing is the blood line of any business... focus on that... strategies on the "how to do the deal" is easy... trust me...Finding the deal is the hard part.Hope that helps.Jeff Cogawww.TheVindication.comHelp Me Finish My Book

I closed my first multifamily syndicated purchase this week (24 unit, 7 yr old high quality condos in Des Moines),but, my second deal fell through because the largest investor pulled out at a late stage and I didn't have a backup investor so couldn't get to closing.

Find out vacant, occupied, who lives there, repairs, etc... basic stuff...Then work backwards... deal structuring is my strongest thing so let me know if you need help.Jeff Coga[LINK REMOVED]Help Me Finish My Book!

Check your state laws, most of them set the maximum late fees.In Iowa, it's no more than $10 per day with a maximum monthly late fee of $40.

It is great to not have to worry about a tenant calling about a broken heater while your trying to show another property to a prospective tenant.The collections department is obviously in charge of collecting rent and late fees as well as coordinating evictions.