I bought and moved to a condo, and when my closing attorney wrote them a demand letter, I got the refund in a week.I watch court shows on TV where landlords try to keep deposits with pictures of garbage left behind and damages, and usually the judges are not sympathetic attributing it to wear and tear.

All the income and gains flow back into the IRA and grow on a taxed deferred basis. 

I am a beginner investor and I am looking to put a team together that includes a contractor and an agent, and I want to grow to become a flipper.

Supply and Demand has driven prices up beyond what collected rents can pay for when you buy at current prices.

I only really focus on SFR at this time and I’m just trying to grow my portfolio but to respond to the OP an overall crash of everything in the real estate world just isn’t adding up to me and most other experienced investors at this time.

I do not agree with the comments that say the first property is meant to be a learning experience and that it doesn't need to make money.It may be a learning experience, but buying a poor deal hurts your ability to grow your business and might not give the new investor a good impression of real estate investing. 

I never travel to a property unless I reach the due diligence phase and intend to close on a deal.Also start reaching out to out of state brokers on Loopnet.com to establish and grow relationships with them.

The premise behind them all is the same, you have to be able to evaluate the risk and demand an appropriate return.

For example, my $50,000 after one year grows to $100,000 with no loans.

But from what I've read, if that company set up the mortgage, there must have been some funny business.Now what you're saying about the principal growing and the payoff quote being higher, I confess I know nothing about that, and that is VERY helpful advice.