@Justin True one more thing I just thought of here:  you should try downloading the Experian app and playing around with it. 

Hi,I found a reasonable deal with an above average cap rate (5% vs 4%) that will have a positive cash flow with the current market interest rates.

They use national averages and try to adjust fr location but its not an accurate way of estimating costs.Bottom line there are not short cuts.

Auctions are just another marketing vehicle and are designed to attract higher than average returns to the seller with minimum reserves and buyer fees. 

The thinking here is that I obviously want to start working on my assets column ASAP, but I'm uncertain what the math looks like for these trusts if I'm going to be pulling from it next summer to buy my own property.I see that these trusts make around 8% on average, and that the income is taxed, so is the 8% before or after taxes?

For me the answer is at least 5-10% more than the long-term average return of the S&P 500. 

The public schools in Dickinson are above average.

You're probably already looking for homes that aren't turnkey, need a little more work than the average/don't have curb appeal, etc. to try to avoid competing with such buyers. 

The average monthly cost will be higher.

So, I just downloaded the app in the hopes of not having to go through the whole logging into the internet to update my fire starters.